Mitchell Robinson’s Knicks return comes with solid play and ‘smooth’ dunk

MEMPHIS — Mitchell Robinson’s long-awaited return was about as promising as the Knicks could’ve envisioned.

After roughly 10 months on the shelf, the longest-tenured Knick logged 12 minutes with six points and five boards in a thrilling 114-113 victory Friday night.

Robinson, who hadn’t played since undergoing ankle surgery in May, was called into action earlier than planned because of foul trouble to Karl-Anthony Towns.

He responded in the first shift with a driving dunk and a left-handed finish in the post.

“You saw that, huh? It was smooth,” Robinson said of his dunk. “I mean, that’s something we’ve been working on through the whole rehab process. I felt comfortable doing it.”

Robinson’s return coincided with the Knicks in desperate need for frontcourt and defensive help, with just one other natural center on the roster — Towns — and injuries starting to pile up as the season approaches the final quarter pole.