Knicks center Mitchell Robinson helped New York extend its postseason with a 111-94 Game 5 victory over Indiana on Thursday night, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post.
Robinson has been starting in the stead of guard Josh Hart since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. That said, Hart is still playing starter’s minutes, even as the team’s new sixth man, averaging 12 minutes per game more than Robinson.
“It’s just matchups and what’s going on in the game,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said of his decision to keep Robinson in the starting five. “Sometimes it’s impacted by foul trouble as well.”
Robinson logged six points, six boards, two blocks and a steal in 20 minutes of action. Beyond the statistics, Robinson’s defense against Indiana helped the Knicks build out a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter.
The 26-year-old will be on an expiring $13MM deal next season. His health has been an ongoing question mark throughout his pro career, but his defensive upside could put him in line for a raise on an extension and/or make him an intriguing asset for rival teams.
There’s more out of New York:
- Knicks reserve guard Cameron Payne has fallen out of New York’s rotation even as Thibodeau has built out his bench rotation to include veterans Landry Shamet and Delon Wright, notes Jared Schwartz of The New York Post (subscriber link). Payne had suited up for all of New York’s first 14 playoff bouts, averaging 7.2 MPG. He has now been a healthy scratch in each of the Knicks’ last three games. Payne, on an expiring veteran’s minimum contract, may be playing himself out of a future in New York.
- On the brink of elimination, the Knicks now live to fight another day after shellacking Indiana in Game 5. Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link) supplies his report card, awarding All-Star guard Jalen Brunson an A for his 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field. “I’m just very proud of what we did,” Brunson said, per SNY.tv (Twitter link). “Now, we’ve just got to replicate it in the first quarter of next game and then continue to build on that.”
- The Knicks’ aggressive defense proved critical in stopping the best efforts of the Pacers’ best player, All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton, notes Schwartz in another piece. Haliburton notched a turnover-free 32-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound triple-double in Game 4. All-Defensive swingman Mikal Bridges served as Haliburton’s primary defender in Game 5. Haliburton didn’t connect from the floor until the third quarter. The two-time All-Star shot just 2-of-8 from the floor to finish with eight points. Robinson’s versatile defense proved crucial against the Pacers all over the floor. Shamet and Wright chipped in defensively, too.
Don’t you just love it ……. Will all the geniuses please stand up. I know you will go into hiding today. But Pacers still only need one. Next gm is the last gm of the year. If you don’t think or feel that. Then you should just go away . Cause we balling here …..
In Thins we Trust ….,,,
Shhhhh. Your season ends next game
It might. But I’ll show up.
link to youtu.be
I’m here, I’m not running. They played well. Energy and urgency like you said was needed from the opening tip off. Defensively they played the passing lanes MUCH better and didn’t foul (as much). I saw so much traveling on Indiana that was not being called by the refs, it was sickening. You’re not winning a close out game by committing 20 turnovers on the road at the Garden, I loved what Shamet brought on defense and hit a few timely buckets when Pacers were trying to make a run. I never understood why it took Thibs 3 games to realize Cam Payne is awful and Shamet is the much better player against these wing defenders for the Pacers.
Must win game tomorrow night for Indiana, can’t come back to the Garden for a G7 and season on the line. Have to play smart, fast and loose on both ends of the floor. Should be a great game though.
It was team D and two leading scorers that led the way. Landry was huge and the crowd gave him respect …. again Thibs went 10 deep.
link to x.com
Payne is hot and cold. Usually in for offense and energy. Landry much better defender. Been saying this about Thibs since Detroit series. The bench is what it is. He helped make it this way. You still have to play what you got. Even if its just to have your starters fresher to close out games.
Indy can not lose next game ….
What did I say after gm1 ——
You gotta play this way all the time. Gave away gm 1. Then got rocked gm2. gm 1 is on them. This is why we are here. Only one gm left -/—
I been hearing that from Knick fans all series long. Next game will be tough for Knicks. No home town calls that swing to favor Pacers. Pacers need to go back to going inside and attacking the rim. Pacers need to do a better job protecting the rim. Why are they not double teaming Brunson is the question.
Never from me. I’m the only one on this biard who plays one gm at a time. And I’ve been here longer than you ……….. all about gm 1. Not an excuse a fact. Their arrogance it away.
Yeah we know most of those clowns only post when the Knicks lose. That’s why they were silent for weeks after the Knicks had a bit of trouble with Detroit early in the first round.
This way they can post and pretend they’re really talking about ball, without having to actually say anything of substance. Just “haha x team won and Knicks lost and will still suck forever and ever”. They need material from all the Knicks hate the media provides them after a loss, and to feel solidarity with the other ignorant haters and trolls who just do the same BS.
All-Defensive swingman Mikal Bridges served as Haliburton’s primary defender in Game 5. Haliburton didn’t connect from the floor until the third quarter. The two-time All-Star shot just 2-of-8 from the floor to finish with eight points. Robinson’s versatile defense proved crucial against the Pacers all over the floor. Shamet and Wright chipped in defensively, too.
Did I tell about Hali …… what did I say.
Handle Haliburton you handle Pacers. I got plenty more …….. its like Knicks you shut down Brunson. You probably win. One more .. let’s do this.
Knicks survive that’s nice. Will they do the same thing twice?
How about thrice?
… great game by Brunson, but I still don’t forgive him for the crazy flops earlier in the series. It also seemed like Knicks were getting some home cooking in the 1st Half which threw IND off their game but that goes both ways. Without refs playing spoiler, though, Knicks are going to have to bring everything they’ve got to beat this team. They do know how to hustle and scrap so it’s possible. Still Indiana is winning this next one.
“It also seemed like Knicks were getting some home cooking in the 1st Half which threw IND off their game but that goes both ways.”
Refs more than made up for that in the second half. Knicks got called for 10 fouls in the third alone and Indy at one point had an 8-0 run without even making a field goal. Both teams ended up with 22 fouls apiece and both teams play physical defense, so that’s a tough game to officiate, imo. Hoping for a game 7 in the Garden!
I said Pacers in 6 before the series and there’s no reason to think they can’t make it happen.
I thought Carlisle could have done a better job last night. Their usual ball movement was missing, and Turner only getting 3 fgas after averaging over 10 in the 1st 4 games was the result. They didn’t go at Towns to get him in foul trouble and so he only got called for 1 in the 1st half.
Brunson sure can shoot – the Pacers will need to step up the defense tomotrrow.
All this talk about officiating. I got some advice. Know the facts please ……. I never cry about refs.
Doesn’t mean I agree with them. My experience is no matter how bad or good they are. You NEVER leave it up to them …. You close teams out.
Gm1 — Pacers (24). Knicks (23)
Gm2 — Pacers (23). Knicks (19)
Gm3 — Pacers (27). Knicks (25)
Gm4 — Pacers (27). Knicks (27)
Gm5 — Pacers (22). Knicks (22)
As we can clearly see. Pacers have been getting the calls. They have gotten 7 more calls over the 5 games. Take into account three Knick hm gms. Then you have to scratch your head …..so if you are a Pacer fan and crying. Then you are a FankenStein ..
NYK all about next game. In Thibs we Trust.
I actually got this backwards …. Noticed it too late.
My apologies …….🙏
Knicks as the hm team (3gms). Has gotten 7 more calls. My point still holds. Just doesn’t look as good.
Only gm 2 is more than 1. Refs haven’t affected any game. Knicks missing FTs gm 1. And blowing a 9 pt lead in a min. Is still the biggest turning point of series ….. not about refs to me.
I agree, officiating has not affected this series.
I’ve learned to greatly appreciate Thibs and accept him for what he is. A bit stubborn but more open to change than before. Not having fresher players on the court to close out Game 1, has indeed been the biggest factor/mistake in my opinion as well.
The sheer number isn’t as impactful as when the bad/biased calls happen so regardless of your error, your point misses the point.
Also, not sure why we’re on some other thread keep the conversation on one thread please.