With Karl-Anthony out for a night nursing his sore left knee, Mitchell Robinson started as the Knick center for the first time since the season-ending ankle injury (and ensuing surgery) in last year’s playoffs against Philly.
And Mitchell Robinson Dominated on Defense and the Offensive glass — scoring 14 pts (on 5-9 shooting, 4-4 in free throws) with 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal in 21 minutes.
On his birthday — Robinson turned 27.
Philly made a run to pull within 5 points in the 3rd quarter, but Josh Hart and the Knick defense picked up, with OG Anunoby everywhere (27 pts on 7-16 shooting (2-9 from 3) and Landry Shamet caught FIRE from 3 — nailing six 3 pointers (20 pts on 7-12 shooting, 6-11 from 3) as the Knicks cruised to the win in the 4th.
“I think Landry has been playing at a very high level, and I think Landry and Mitch gave us a huge boost tonite, particularly with guys being out,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “OG has been on a tear; but we had a number of guys — Josh had timely plays for us; Mikal timely plays; Delon’s (Wright’s) ball pressure is a huge factor for us — he played well also.”
“I think it’s huge,” continued Thibs about Mitchell Robinson’s performance. “He’s getting his timing back, and you can see it. As time goes on it just gets better and better. He usually has a couple of guys on him and he still has the ability to get to the ball, which is a credit to him. He’s a big multiple-effort guy. We need that pressure; those extra possessions are huge for us.”
NY improved to 48-27; Philly falls to 23-53.
1. Philly Tanking; Knicks Injured
This was a very different Philly team than the one the Knicks faced in last year’s playoffs. Joel Embiid has spent most of the year injured, and has been ruled out for the season for a while now — scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Philly is in tank mode and for this game, Tyrese Maxey (finger), Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr, Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon, and Guerschon Yabusele (6’8 forward averaging 10.7 ppg) were all out for assorted injuries.
The Knicks were missing Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson (knee), Miles McBride (groin), and Cameron Payne (ankle).
2. Robinson Dominates in 1st Half
Mitchell Robinson dominated from the get go as the starting center — the biggest athletic guy on the court — imposing on D and grabbing offensive rebounds on the other end with quick multiple effort plays.
He scored all 14 of his points in the 1st half, going 5-5 from the floor and 4-4 in free throws with 8 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, and a +14 to lead NY to a 17-pt halftime lead.
MITCHELL ROBINSON EUROSTEP SLAM! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/tesJhWR2Uv
— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) April 2, 2025
3. Grimes Leads Philly Run to Pull them to Within 5
But old friend Quentin Grimes and sidekick Lonnie Walker IV led a Philly run at the start of the 3rd that pulled them to within 5 at 70-65 after a Grimes steal of a Tyler Kolek pass and dunk.
Grimes would finish with 26 pts on 8-18 shooting (1-6 from 3, 9-10 in free throws), while Walker had 11 pts and Ricky Council IV had 16 pts on 6-13 shooting.
Both Council IV and Walker IV started in the backcourt for Philly along with Grimes — the 76’ers are probably the first team in history to have two IV’s in the starting rotation.
4. Hart Everywhere; Shamet on FIRE from 3
Mikal Bridges answered the Grimes dunk with a 3, and on the next play Josh Hart grabbed a defensive rebound and ran the court for a drive and NY was back up 10.
NY’s defense intensified. Delon Wright was playing excellent D, as was Shamet, along with Hart and OG and Bridges and Mitch.
Shamet hit a quick-release 3 off a pass from Kolek, Philly’s Alex Reese answered with a 3, but Josh Hart ran the court off a defensive rebound and JUST put the ball in as the buzzer sounded to end the 3rd — giving NY an 80-70 lead after 3.
Josh Hart RACES down the court for the buzzer-beater 🏎️ pic.twitter.com/Nf6SWzSjvF
— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) April 2, 2025
5. Shamet on Fire; OG Everywhere in 4th
Precious Achiuwa and Mikal Bridges scored the first 2 buckets for the Knicks in the 4th, and when Shamet hit another quick-release 3 from the corner, NY was up 15 at 87-72.
Landry Shamet is ripping the nets 🔥 pic.twitter.com/q6rBibs8qV
— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) April 2, 2025
OG Anunoby had the play of the night when he hauled down a defensive rebound and went full court for the Dunk-and-1 — electrifying the Garden.
OG ANUNOBY DUNK OF THE YEAR 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/rgMo9pwEa2
— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) April 2, 2025
OG kept driving to the basket and getting to the line, and Shamet kept hitting 3’s as the Knicks ran out to a 20+ point lead and ballgame.
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