After the Knicks’ 115-93 loss to the Celtics in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon, head coach Tom Thibodeau and several players addressed key moments and concerns, including Mitchell Robinson’s free-throw struggles and a potential injury to Karl-Anthony Towns.
Dealing with ‘Hack-a-Mitch’
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned heavily on the “Hack-a-Mitch” tactic during this series—intentionally sending Mitchell Robinson, a career 52 percent free-throw shooter, to the line. It’s been effective in disrupting the Knicks’ offense and maintaining Boston’s momentum.
Mazzulla employed the strategy again in Game 3, and Robinson went just 4-of-12 from the line. He’s now shooting a troubling 29 percent (11-for-38) at the stripe this postseason.
Coach Thibodeau explained the dilemma of keeping Robinson on the floor despite his struggles.
“You’ve got to make a decision between five [players] and two,” Thibodeau said. “If he’s making [free throws], he stays; if he’s not, we’ve got to get him out. Is he impacting the game in other ways? There are a lot of factors to consider.”
Despite the frustration, the MSG crowd showed unwavering support, erupting with cheers after each made free throw. Robinson, who practiced his shooting before the game, even sank three in a row at one point.
His teammates have also rallied around him.
“It’s a tough position to be in, especially mentally,” said Jalen Brunson. “But we’re going to have each other’s backs. Win or lose, we go through it together.”
In Game 3, Robinson logged 19 minutes, scored six points, and grabbed eight rebounds—six of them on the offensive end.
Concern Over Towns’ Hand
Another concern emerged Saturday when Karl-Anthony Towns appeared to injure his shooting hand after a foul. The big man was visibly in discomfort but remained in the game.
Towns played 37 minutes, finishing with 21 points on 5-of-18 shooting and pulling down 15 rebounds.
After the game, he was asked about the injury but downplayed the issue.
“It is what it is,” Towns said. “I just want to do whatever I can to be out there.”
Though some fans on social media speculated—based on lip-reading—that Towns said he “broke something,” he gave no clear indication of the injury’s severity. When asked whether he had an X-ray, he deflected the question.
“It’s the playoffs. You get hit, and you play through it,” he said. “No one’s at 100 percent right now, but you learn how to play well even when you’re not at your best. That’s the mental side of the playoffs.”
It’s worth noting that Towns has been playing through a bone chip in his right thumb since January, an injury he’s managed throughout the season.