When at his best — and, most importantly, when healthy — in the past, Mitchell Robinson’s offensive rebounding has ranked among the league’s best. It has served as a Knicks strength that dipped when he missed time.

With or without Towns in the lineup, Robinson's presence in the middle is a major force to add to the Knicks' frontcourt as both a defensive anchor and classic pick-and-roll pairing. This time around, he had to make do without his star counterpart to join him in the rotation, but that didn't prove to be much of an issue.

Mitchell Robinson gave himself a birthday gift — and the Knicks a jolt of energy they’ve been waiting to feel again. With Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined due to left knee soreness, Robinson returned to the starting lineup Tuesday and delivered his most impactful performance since ankle surgery derailed his season.