Robinson takes over at point, leads Knicks' comeback win

By Adam Zagoria, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday February 3, 2010 11:57PM

NEW YORK (NBA.com exclusive) -- Nate Robinson says he's not about to make Chris Duhon the next Wally Pipp.

Even after Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni made the somewhat startling announcement that Robinson would likely be the team's starting point guard "until he gives me a reason not to," Robinson said he had no intentions of supplanting the struggling Duhon the way Lou Gehrig once famously supplanted Pipp at first base for the Yankees.

"Everybody heard of Wally Pipp, but that's not Duhon. Duhon is our leader. He's our captain and everybody goes through something. He was there for me when I went through my thing and I'm going to always be there for him," Robinson said after starting at the point in the second half of the Knicks' 107-85 come-from-behind victory over Washington and finishing with game-highs of 23 points and eight assists.

The Knicks trailed 45-41 after a first half in which Duhon played 13-plus minutes and Robinson almost 11. They outscored the Wizards 66-40 in the second half when Robinson played all 24 minutes and Duhon didn't get off the bench.

Duhon has started all 48 Knicks games, while Robinson has yet to start. But that could change Friday when the Knicks host Milwaukee.

"It happens. I mean Nate's playing well, I'm not playing well. I'm not getting it done, so it's his [D'Antoni's] job to make this team win and Nate is obviously capable of doing that," said a subdued Duhon, who finished with two points and two assists.

"I just thought his energy was way down," D'Antoni said of Duhon. "It's been down for a little bit. I can't tell you [why], I don't know."

David Lee added 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Knicks (19-29) stopped a three-game skid that included Saturday's 106-96 loss at Washington (16-32). Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari tallied 15 points apiece.

Six players reached double-figures for the Wizards, with Randy foye and Nick Young scoring 15 apiece, Andray Blatche adding 14 and Mike Miller and Brendan Haywood tallying 12 each.

Larry Hughes, playing for the first time in five games, scored 11 points off the bench in almost 18 minutes for the Knicks. Al Harrington, who missed two games with a sore left knee, scored 12 points, hitting clutch back-to-back 3-pointers to turn a 58-53 third-quarter deficit into a 59-58 advantage the Knicks never relinquished.

D'Antoni has shown no hesitation or remorse about pulling guys out of the rotation throughout the season in an effort to spark his sometimes listless team.

Robinson sat for 14 games earlier this year before returning in thrilling fashion to drop 41 points in an overtime win in Atlanta. Now he seems poised to take over the point guard duties.

"When a guy deserves to play he deserves to play and I thought he did," D'Antoni said of Robinson. "There are some moments in your life you gotta seize and I thought he seized them."

Hughes had gone public with his unhappiness about being relegated to the bench for five straight games and 15 overall, calling it a "joke" at one point.

But he said D'Antoni informed him prior to the game to "be ready."

He responded by adding energy off the bench, including a breakaway layup that capped a 31-20 third quarter that put the Knicks up 72-65 after three.

"When you lose three in a row and you're playing bad, you just try to give it to someone else," D'Antoni said. "Larry, the reason he went to the bench the first time, I didn't think he was playing well. And when the guys that are above him play bad, then let's try him again."

Hughes started 14 games earlier in the season but never regained his role after missing three games in mid-December with a strained left groin.

"I was able to get in there in the first half and also in the second half, so it was good to be back out on the court," Hughes said.

"I felt all along I could contribute so when I'm put in a situation to go out there and play I'm going to do my job and try to earn my keep, just come out and try to help the team win."

D'Antoni has upset several players by pulling them out of the rotation without notifying them.

Still, he insisted all season that his coaching moves are not personal, but are merely aimed at getting the right combination of players on the floor.

"I understand the frustrations, but I'm just trying to put the best guys on the floor," D'Antoni said. "I'm not going to get it right all the time, because I don't have a crystal ball, but the intent is to see how good we can play."

In the constantly fluid world of the Knicks, Robinson is now poised to start and Duhon appears headed to the bench.

"Night in and night out, whenever my number's called, I'll be there to help my team," Robinson said.

• Wizards: Butler, Crittenton
• Knicks: Curry, Milicic, Mobley

• Wizards: --
• Knicks: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 10

• Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Officials: #75 Eric Dalen, #10 Ron Garretson, #40 Leon Wood
• Attendance: 19225
• Duration: 1:57