Mitchell Robinson’s Great Game Can’t Save Knick Stinkeroo Shooting. Philly 116 NY 107

December 20, 2025 LouV 2025-26 0
Mitchell Robinson had 21 pts on 7-8 shooting (and 7-8 from free throw line) with 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal in 26 minutes. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

Thud.

The Knicks 8-game winning streak came to an end on a night when they couldn’t shoot straight on the backend of a back-to-back, losing to Philly 116-107 on a cold Friday night at Madison Square Garden — heavy winds plunging temperatures into the 20’s outside.

The Knicks finally had a let down after just beating Indiana at the buzzer the night before, and winning the In-Tourney Championship 2 nights before that. NY shot 8-32 from 3 (25%) and were outscored 16-2 on points off turnovers.

The loss wasted Mitchell Robinson‘s great game — his new free-throw shooting motion finally produced results, as he shot 7 for 8 from the free throw line — and scored 21 pts on 7-8 shooting, with 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal in 26 minutes.

He and Karl-Anthony Towns played in tandem much of the night — and KAT did well as well with 22 pts on 7-15 shooting (1-5 from 3) with 11 rebounds.

But Jalen Brunson had a tough shooting night (7-22, 1-7 from 3), as did OG Anunoby (2 pts on 1-9 shooting, 0-4 from 3). Mikal Bridges held up his end with 21 pts on 9-16 shooting (3-7 from 3), and Jordan Clarkson had 9 pts on 4-6 shooting). Tyler Kolek had a falloff from his great evening the night before, as he turned the ball over 4 times in 15 minutes. The 76ers seemed to be hunting his passes.

Philly out-hustled NY much of the evening, especially 6’4 rookie VJ Edgecombe — the #3 pick in last June’s draft — who scored 23 pts on 10-18 shooting (3-6 from 3) and Tyrese Maxey who scored 30 pts on 11-24 shooting.

“We weren’t really looking too far ahead, so we didn’t realize how challenging going right into a back-to-back and then an earlier game on Sunday,” said Josh Hart afterwards. “We knew it was going to be a challenge; gotta make sure we get our bodies right, get some sleep, some good food, and try to get back on Sunday.”

“Feel more comfortable, getting my elbow under it, getting it up in the air a little more,” said Mitchell Robinson about his free throws. On his big game, he said: “Felt great, but doesn’t really mean too much because we lost.”

NY falls to 19-8; Philadelphia improves to 15-11.

1. Tie Game After 1 Quarter

The game went back and forth in the 1st quarter — Philly getting scoring from Tyrese Maxey, Dominick Barlow, VJ Edgecombe, and Andre Drummond, who hit the first of 3 three’s he would hit on the night.

Guerschon Yabusele hit a 3 against his old team, and raised a fist in celebration.

Mitchell Robinson was fouled near the end of the quarter — and missed the first free throw, but hit the 2nd to a cheer from the MSG crowd — tying the game at 29-29.

Robinson would proceed to hit the next 6 free throws he would take on the evening.

2. Close Game at the Half — NY Leads 59-57

Mitchell Robinson wasn’t just hitting free throws — he was dominating on both ends of the court, blocking shots on D, ripping down rebounds on the offensive and defensive glass, dunking inside, and slamming home alley-oop passes.

A Robinson offensive rebound and put-back slam gave NY a 40-34 lead early in the 2nd.

Tyler Kolek came in to start the 2nd quarter, but wasn’t as sharp as the night before — as Philly seemed to be ghosting him looking for a pass or to disrupt him by knocking the ball away from behind — as Quentin Grimes did with 7:21 left in the quarter, leading to a Kolek foul and 2 Grimes free throws.

NY led 59-54, but a Paul George 3-pter with 34 seconds left made it 59-57 NY at the half.

3. Close Game After 3 — Philly Leads 88-87

Philly came out of the break with renewed energy — and took a 72-65 lead, based on the athletic play of VJ Edgecombe with a 3 and a couple of drives, and a couple of 3’s by Drummond.

Mitchell Robinson continued to be the story for NY, and his free throws the story within the story — as Madison Square Garden cheered as he hit free throw after free throw — he went 3-3 in the quarter, one after a drive-and-1.

Kolek came in late in the 3rd quarter but again wasn’t as effective as the night before — missing his shot and turning the ball over 2 more times.

Philly had an 88-87 lead after 3.

4. Philly Takes It in 4th As Knicks Can’t Hit Shots

And Jalen Brunson kept missing shots — floaters, 3’s, everything he took. And OG Anunoby was scoreless on the night going into the 4th quarter — missing everything he took.

Mitchell Robinson continued to dominate for NY in the 4th — scoring the first 5 pts for NY, including a drive-and-1 for a 92-92 NY lead.

But Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey answered with back-to-back 3’s and Philly was back up 97-92.

Mitchell Robinson answered with a dunk off a Mikal Bridges assist, but Jared McCain answered with a deuce and the game went back and forth — Philly with a 3- to 5-pt lead until the final 4 minutes — when VJ Edgecombe went off — hitting a pullup and a 3 to put Philly up 108-102 with 3:07 left.

Edgecombe Goes Off in Final 4 Minutes to Seal Philly Win

Mikal Bridges hit a 3 to give NY one final push — pulling them within 108-105 with 2:24 left — but Andre Drummond answered with a drive-and-1, Brunson missed a 3, and VJ Edgecombe — again — came out of nowhere to put back an offensive rebound off a Maxey miss to seal the game — Philly 113- NY 105 with 1:38 left.

“VJ Edgecombe has the big time athleticism, a nice skillset, ability to create his own, find the open man,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines, “but even more impressive is his motor, he defends hard the entire possession, takes pride in getting stops, first one on the floor for a loose ball all while playing within himself.”

KAT came back with a 3 with 1:10 left to pull NY within 6 but Maxey answered with a 3 and it was good night NY, into the Windy, bitter cold NYC evening.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810237

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