The chances of Mitchell Robinson making it back to the Knicks this season suddenly have improved.
The NBA denied the Knicks’ request for a disabled player exception for the injured center, who underwent ankle surgery in December, a league source confirmed.
The Knicks only have said publicly that Robinson was expected to miss eight to 10 weeks after he suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle against the Celtics on Dec. 8, and being denied the $7.8 million exception raises their optimism that he can return before the end of the season.
The front office applied for the salary-cap relief as due diligence in case it was determined that the invaluable center would be out for the year.
A potential return by the 7-foot Robinson — an elite offensive rebounder and defensive anchor — would be seen as a huge talent boost for the Knicks down the stretch, even though backup center Isaiah Hartenstein has thrived in his absence.
Hartenstein has averaged 8.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 offensive boards and 1.8 blocked shots in 16 games since Robinson was sidelined, with Jericho Sims starting in the middle in five of those games.
The Knicks since have also signed and released veteran big man Taj Gibson and acquired Precious Achiuwa in the deal that imported two-way wing OG Anunoby from the Raptors on Dec. 30.
Getting Robinson back would add another defensive stalwart to the Knicks, who are riding a five-game winning streak since that trade entering Thursday’s road game against the Mavericks.
In the second year of a four-year contract worth $60 million, the 25-year-old Robinson had been leading the NBA at the time of his injury with 5.3 offensive rebounds per game, and his 10.3 rebounds overall represents a career high.
He also missed significant portions of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons following foot and hand surgeries.
— additional reporting by Stefan Bondy
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