BOSTON — By way of two video games on this Jap Convention semifinal collection, no person has made a much bigger influence than Mitchell Robinson.
The 7-footer was a key a part of the Knicks’ Recreation 1 victory and he was pivotal to their heart-stopping 91-90 Recreation 2 win Wednesday night time.
Robinson was a drive on the defensive finish, ending with six factors, eight rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes off the bench.
The Knicks outscored the Celtics by 19 factors with Robinson on the ground, and they’re 32 factors higher than the Celtics within the collection within the 43 minutes Robinson has been on the court docket.
“Just be better than the last game [was my mindset],” Robinson stated. “Came in with high energy, because I knew they would come out aggressive. I had to make some adjustments myself.”
Within the collection opener, the Celtics deliberately fouled Robinson a number of instances, and he went 3-for-10 on the free-throw line.
The Celtics went to that technique once more, however the Knicks took him out earlier than they have been within the bonus.
“Actually, that makes me feel like I’m a threat. You want me out the game,” Robinson stated. “I’m just saying, you trying to get me out the game? Why do you want me out the game?”
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Robinson was concerned within the last defensive stand that gave the Knicks a 2-0 collection lead.
After Jalen Brunson hit two free throws with 12.7 seconds left, Robinson drew Celtics star Jayson Tatum on a swap.
Tatum tried to drive previous him, however Robinson caught with him. Tatum veered near the baseline, the place Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby helped off their males, and Bridges stole Tatum’s move supposed for Jaylen Brown, sealing the win.
“Pretty epic,” Robinson stated. “He’s a great player, so I did whatever it takes to get it done.”
After logging simply 13 ineffective Recreation 1 minutes as a consequence of an sickness, Kristaps Porzingis got here off the bench and scored eight factors and added 4 rebounds in 14 minutes.
He missed eight video games in March with an higher respiratory sickness and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated he wasn’t fully over it.
“I’m just not feeling my best at all,” Porzingis stated. “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 have been with out reserve ahead Sam Hauser (sprained proper ankle).
