TL;DR
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.
OG OK
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.