Robinson’s foul night a learning experience

ORLANDO, Fla. — One week ago, center Mitchell Robinson blocked a Knicks rookie-record nine shots against the Magic at the Garden. Orlando coach Steve Clifford said he was on “my board” during preparations for the rematch.

On Sunday, Robinson got rejected by the referees. In a foul-plagued performance, Robinson looked a lot more like a project than a starting center, playing just 8:42 and going scoreless with no blocks and five fouls. Knicks coach David Fizdale started Enes Kanter for the second half.

Robinson picked up four fouls in the first half. He came in late in the third quarter and immediately got his fifth foul for reacting late on a driving Nikola Vucevic and was back to the pine.

“I guess it’s just part of being a rookie,’’ said Robinson, who has started since the season’s sixth game. “As a rookie, you’re not going to get foul [calls]. You got to play through it. I can’t help my team out if I’m on the bench. I’m a great shot-blocker and we could have used that today, but I got in foul trouble.’’

Fizdale hasn’t gotten word Kristaps Porzingis is close to being allowed to practice with the team. Nine months after his ACL surgery, Porzingis raised eyebrows last week with remarks in a magazine interview in which he said, “I’m already doing some contact drills, and things where I’m competing against somebody. It’s good that it’s coming to an end.”

That sounded like his rehab was about to morph into team practices, but Fizdale sounded less definitive about whether Porzingis is coming back this season.

“I don’t think it’s at that place [of returning to practice],” Fizdale said. “At some point, I would think. I know he’s feeling better. Obviously his progress, we’re all excited about every step he takes forward. The trainers are keeping me in the loop as possible while letting me focus at the same time so I don’t get my hopes up for [Porzingis] too soon. But hopefully the sooner the better.”