Knicks guard Derrick Rose, rear, is greeted by center Taj Gibson and guard Immanuel Quickley during a timeout in the second quarter against the Rockets in an NBA game on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Credit: AP/Wendell Cruz
The reality of life without Mitchell Robinson seemed to take hold in the first quarter Saturday night as the Knicks center sat on the bench in a pink sweater with a matching cast on his right hand. And on the floor, Nerlens Noel anchored the interior defense and the result was 18 points in the paint for the Houston Rockets, converting nine of 10 shots in the paint.