Knicks' Nerlens Noel reacts after he was called for a foul in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Credit: AP/Elsa
When Mitchell Robinson went down with a fractured right hand an added responsibility was handed to Nerlens Noel, shifted into the starting lineup. And when Taj Gibson suffered a sprained left ankle Saturday, Noel was handed an additional burden — playing the sort of minutes usually reserved for superstars.
But in back-to-back wins this weekend, Noel, who has long searched for an opportunity, found himself playing 41 minutes Saturday and 40 Sunday, making huge contributions against the Pacers and Pistons.