Overview

• Mitchell Robinson's defensive impact has been crucial in the Knicks' 91-90 Game 2 win, where New York outscored Boston by 19 points during his time on the floor.
• Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns have anchored a dominant defensive pairing, holding opponents to an 87.3 defensive rating in the playoffs and outscoring the Celtics 20-4 in shared minutes this series.
• Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has employed intentional fouling to exploit Robinson’s 26.9% free-throw shooting in the playoffs, forcing him off the court in key moments.
• Robinson’s ability to guard all five positions and protect the rim has disrupted Boston’s offense, limiting high-percentage shots near the basket.
• His screening has enhanced the Knicks’ offense, creating open looks for teammates like Mikal Bridges, who scored all six of his field goals in Game 2 while sharing the floor with Robinson.