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Game previews:
But the Knicks’ schedule, which had been so unkind in the last 10 days with road games against the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, may be extending them a hand. On Friday night, they will return to Madison Square Garden to play the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-23), who have lost their last 13 games.
“We don’t want to be that team to get them going again, to get them back on track,” Robinson said.
At 6-foot-7, Craig “The Rhino” Smith is classified as an undersized power forward. Smith has turned the height disparity into an advantage with quickness and power on the offensive side of the floor. After replacing Randy Wittman two weeks ago, head coach Kevin McHale inserted Smith in the starting lineup. In the 19 games as a bench player, Smith averaged 8.3 points per game in 17 minutes of play. The Rhino has increased his scoring average to 13.8 as a starter in the last eight games. On a team that struggles from the field, Smith shoots 52.2 percent to lead the Wolves in field goal percentage. The power forward out of Boston College is also averaging a career-high 9.9 points per game on the season. Smith is the emotional spark for Minnesota during the early stages of games and seems to be most comfortable in the starting lineup.