Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters that Nerlens Noel was “real close” to returning from a sore left knee, but that won’t be on Saturday night.
New York has listed Noel as out for Saturday’s road tilt with the Pelicans, as Noel has now missed all six regular season games as well as the preseason due to his knee soreness.
“He’s ramped up pretty good right now,’’ Thibodeau said before Tuesday’s win over the 76ers. “Hopefully it will be soon. It’s when he’s ready to go. So he’s been taking some contact.”
But Noel since missed Thursday’s game against the Bulls and now Saturday’s contest in New Orleans. He signed a three-year, $27.7 million deal this past offseason.
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Mitchell Robinson has been the regular starter at center in Noel’s absence and has been more than up to the task, averaging 8.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while providing elite rim protection and shooting 86.4 percent from the field. Taj Gibson remains the center off the bench.
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