Robinson is an important piece for the Knicks, as he brings rim protection and defensive prowess to the team when healthy. He played stellar on-ball defense against Celtics wing Jayson Tatum in Game 2, forcing him baseline as he was chased off the top of the key, and eventually blocked by Mikal Bridges to seal a win.

Mitch," the strategy to put an opposing, poor free-throw shooting center at the foul line to regain possession. The New York Knicks have been on the wrong side of the strategy over the NBA playoffs, with the Detroit Pistons intentionally fouling Knicks center Mitchell Robinson in the first round and the Boston Celtics doing the same in the second round.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau and the players spoke about the "hack-a-Mitch" and Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about his apparent hand injury after Game 3.