New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson played a crucial role in prolonging his team’s playoff run, contributing to a 111–94 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 on Thursday night, according to Peter Botte of The New York Post.
With the Eastern Conference Finals heating up, Robinson has taken over the starting center role since Game 3, stepping in for guard Josh Hart.
However, Hart continues to log significant minutes, despite coming off the bench, averaging 12 more minutes per game than Robinson, effectively maintaining a starter’s workload.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau explained the adjustment, noting, “It’s just matchups and what’s going on in the game. Sometimes it’s impacted by foul trouble as well.”
In other words, Thibodeau’s rotation choices hinge largely on game dynamics and strategic needs, rather than rigid positional assignments.
In his 20 minutes on the court, Robinson tallied six points, six rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
While his stat line was modest, his impact was far greater than the numbers suggest, particularly on the defensive end, where his presence helped the Knicks carve out a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter.
Looking ahead, Robinson enters next season in the final year of a $13 million contract.
Although injuries have consistently interrupted his career, his elite defensive instincts and ability to alter shots make him a potentially valuable trade target for other teams seeking interior help.
Knicks Notes: Robinson, Payne, Game 5, Defense https://t.co/cQWRlntUBw pic.twitter.com/cr2hSxhRWg
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 30, 2025
