Mitchell Robinson walked into the locker room late Wednesday night time, his jersey nonetheless on, and introduced his arrival as solely he can.
“Foul that,” he mentioned emphatically.
The Knicks’ 7-foot middle had purpose to have a good time.
His unlikely clutch free-throw taking pictures helped the Knicks lengthen their season for no less than another sport with a 112-103 victory over the Warmth in Recreation 5 of the Japanese Convention semifinals. Miami deliberately fouled Robinson twice within the fourth quarter, as opponents as soon as used to do to Shaquille O’Neal, and Robinson hit three of 4 to the delight of the Backyard crowd.
“It felt nice in that second for them to imagine in me,” Robinson mentioned, referring to the sold-out crowd. “Knocking them down for the workforce and stuff like that, it’s wonderful.”
The Warmth first fouled Robinson with 5:17 left and the Knicks main by six. At that time, he had been 7-for-25 from the road within the postseason. He break up a pair.
The following time down, he was fouled once more. This time, he sank each free throws. The constructing exploded in cheers.
The Knicks have been shocked by the technique, Jalen Brunson mentioned. It didn’t shake Robinson. He didn’t take it personally, both.
“It’s a part of basketball,” he mentioned.
Observe The Put up’s protection of the Knicks vs. Warmth NBA playoff sequence
The primary time he was fouled, just one thought crossed his thoughts.
“I’m knocking these down,” Robinson mentioned.
The free throws have been solely part of his bounce-back efficiency. He had eight factors, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals, whereas limiting Bam Adebayo to simply six second-half factors. The Knicks out-rebounded the Warmth by 16 after shedding the battle on the boards within the earlier two video games, in Miami.
“Most effort. Rebounding,” Robinson mentioned. “That’s primarily what this sport comes right down to, is the rebounding. Whoever wins the rebounding match, 9 out of 10 that’s who wins the sport.”
