The Hawks used a strategy called 'Hack-a-Mitch' against Mitchell Robinson during Game 1, hoping to exploit his poor free-throw shooting. Despite this tactic, the Knicks secured a 113-102 victory over the Hawks.
One of the loudest cheers from the Knicksâ playoff-opening win over the Atlanta Hawks was not in response to a highlight-worthy play.
It didnât follow an impressive dunk or a crucial 3-pointer.
No, this roar occurred after Mitchell Robinson sank a free throw a little more than midway through Saturday nightâs 113-102 win at Madison Square Garden.
The Hawks had intentionally fouled the game-wrecking Robinson, a 40.8% free-throw shooter, with 5:44 left in the third quarter, sending him to the line with the hope he would miss twice.
But after Robinson missed his first free-throw attempt, the 7-foot center made the second, giving the Knicks a 71-63 lead.
However, the Hawks stuck with the âHack-a-Mitchâ strategy, sending Robinson back to the line less than a minute later. And that time, he missed both.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown then removed Robinson for the remainder of the third quarter.
This is something the Knicks will have to deal with in the playoffs once again.
Robinson, a 50.8% free-throw shooter for his career, was similarly targeted last year in the Knicksâ playoff series against the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics.
It speaks to Robinsonâs value as a rim protector and rebounder.
âWeâve talked about it,â Brown said ahead of the series. âWe have different things in mind that weâll do. A lot of them will come down to time and score and feel. But we understand thatâs what teams may want to do, especially if our offense is clicking at that point in time.â
Robinson returned to start Saturdayâs fourth quarter and played four more minutes, during which he delivered an alley-oop dunk.
He finished with three points, four rebounds and two blocks in 15 minutes off the bench, during which he was a +5.
The sellout crowd at the Garden let out a collective groan.
With 7:39 remaining in the third quarter, OG Anunoby stepped awkwardly on the foot of C.J. McCollum as he pulled up for a jumper, causing the Knicks forwardâs left ankle to roll.
The 'Hack-a-Mitch' strategy involves intentionally fouling Mitchell Robinson, a poor free-throw shooter, to exploit his shooting weaknesses.
Mitchell Robinson missed his first free-throw attempt but made the second, contributing to the Knicks' lead.
The Knicks defeated the Hawks with a final score of 113-102.
Yes, OG Anunoby returned to play after a brief injury scare.
Jamal Murray scored 30 points and set a franchise record by making all 16 free throw attempts in the Nuggets' 116-105 win over the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the playoffs. The victory gives Denver a 1-0 lead in the series.
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It was the same left ankle that Anunoby injured on April 10 against the Toronto Raptors in what proved to be his final game of the regular season.
Anunoby limped to the bench, but he never went to the locker room.
And less than two minutes later, Anunoby returned to the game as the Knicks breathed a big sigh of relief.
Anunoby scored four of his 18 points after he checked back with 5:39 remaining in the third â including a breakaway dunk late in the quarter on an outlet pass from Jalen Brunson.
He finished 6-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-3 on 3-pointers, and added eight rebounds.
That was one of several injury scares for the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns took an elbow to the head in the second quarter, leaving him in visible pain.
And early in the third, Brunson was left writhing in pain when McCollum kicked him in the groin while following through on a jumper. McCollum was charged with a technical foul for the incident.
Five years ago, Trae Young tormented the Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs, solidifying his status as an all-time New York sports villain.
On Saturday night, Youngâs replacement did his best impression.
McCollum, whom the Hawks acquired in the January trade that sent Young to the Washington Wizards, led Atlanta with 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-9 on 3-pointers.
The 34-year-old scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half alone, repeatedly finding space in the Knicksâ defense with crafty moves.
McCollumâs expiring contract was needed to facilitate the Young trade, but the veteran guard is proving to be much more than a throw-in.
âIn C.J.âs case, we talked early on about him coming off the bench, and the reason for that was Nickeil [Alexander-Walker], whoâd been a sixth man with some injuries, is starting and playing well,â Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said before Game 1.
âI felt like I didnât want to adjust that at that point, and I asked C.J. to come off the bench, and he was unbelievable. And then obviously sometime later we decided to start him. But I think that sacrifice, in and of itself, is not lost on your teammates.â