BOSTON — Through two games in this Eastern Conference semifinal series, nobody has made a bigger impact than Mitchell Robinson.
The 7-footer was a key part of the Knicks’ Game 1 victory and he was pivotal to their heart-stopping 91-90 Game 2 win Wednesday night.
Robinson was a force on the defensive end, finishing with six points, eight rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes off the bench.
During Robinson’s time on the court, the Knicks managed to outscore the Celtics by 19 points, and in total, they have been 32 points ahead of the Celtics within the 43 minutes that Robinson has been playing in the series.
“My mindset was to simply be better than the last game,” Robinson explained. “I entered with high energy, knowing their aggressive approach was inevitable. I had to make some personal adjustments as well.”
In the series opener, the Celtics intentionally fouled Robinson multiple times, and he went 3-for-10 at the free-throw line.
The Celtics went to that method again, but the Knicks took him out before they were in the bonus.
“Honestly, it signals to me that I’m perceived as a threat. You’re attempting to remove me from the game,” Robinson pointed out. “I’m just saying, why are you trying to take me out of the game? What’s the reason?”
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Robinson was involved in the final defensive stand that gave the Knicks a 2-0 series lead.
After Jalen Brunson hit two free throws with 12.7 seconds left, Robinson drew Celtics star Jayson Tatum on a switch.
Tatum attempted to drive past him, but Robinson stuck with him. Tatum veered close to the baseline, where Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby helped off their men, and Bridges stole Tatum’s pass intended for Jaylen Brown, sealing the win.
“Pretty epic,” Robinson said. “He’s a great player, so I did whatever it takes to get it done.”
After logging just 13 ineffective Game 1 minutes due to an illness, Kristaps Porzingis came off the bench and scored eight points and added four rebounds in 14 minutes.
He missed eight games in March with an upper respiratory illness and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he wasn’t completely over it.
“I’m just not feeling my best at all,” Porzingis said. “It just kills me inside that it’s happening in this moment. … My energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares. I have to look forward and [hope] it will get better from this point on.”
The Celtics were without reserve forward Sam Hauser (sprained right ankle).
