Mitchell Robinson’s Free Throw Breakthrough Highlights Knicks' Loss to Sixers
Mitchell Robinson has never been known for his free throw shooting - in fact, it’s been one of the most glaring holes in his game. But on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, something shifted. In a 116-107 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Robinson delivered an unexpected and much-needed spark from the charity stripe, going 7-for-8 at the line - a performance that stood out not just because of the numbers, but because of what it represented.
Let’s be clear: Robinson entered the night shooting just 8-of-33 on free throws this season. That’s a brutal 24% clip, the kind of number that makes opposing coaches think about deploying the hack-a-big strategy without hesitation.
But against Philly, Robinson flipped the script. He sank free throws with confidence, rhythm, and - most surprisingly - consistency.
Twice, he knocked down a pair in succession, something he hadn’t done since Game 5 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.
That kind of performance changes the way teams defend. It certainly changed how Sixers head coach Nick Nurse approached the game.
With Robinson suddenly reliable at the line, Nurse never had to consider fouling him intentionally - a tactic that’s been on the table for years. Instead, Robinson logged a season-high 26 minutes and turned in a monster double-double: 21 points and 16 rebounds off the bench.
That’s the kind of impact the Knicks have long hoped he could bring without the liability at the stripe.
Now, is this a turning point or just a flash in the pan? That remains to be seen.
Robinson has had hot nights at the line before, but sustaining that level has been the challenge. Still, in one night, he raised his season free throw percentage from 24% to 36.6%.
It’s a small sample, but it’s movement in the right direction - and for a player whose role is built on defense, rebounding, and finishing inside, even modest improvement at the line can have a real impact.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, Robinson’s breakthrough came on a night when the team looked like it was running on fumes. Coming off a grueling stretch that included an emotional NBA Cup Final against the Spurs and a back-to-back that started in Indiana, New York simply didn’t have the legs. The travel, the schedule, the emotional high of their Cup run - it all caught up with them.
That fatigue showed. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 22 points, and Mikal Bridges added 21, but the supporting cast struggled to find rhythm.
OG Anunoby managed just two points in 31 minutes, and Josh Hart added only five in 33 minutes. When the Knicks are at their best, it’s because they’re getting production across the board.
That balance wasn’t there on Friday.
Head coach Mike Brown acknowledged the emotional toll the past week had taken on the team. “It’s weird ’cause you are fighting, fighting, fighting and your emotions are high,” he said before tipoff.
“You just have to figure out a way to keep going.” Brown also praised the depth of the roster and the willingness of players like rookie Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek to step up when called upon.
But on this night, it was the Sixers’ young core that stole the show. Tyrese Maxey continued his All-Star campaign with 30 points on 11-of-24 shooting, including a series of backbreaking snatch-back threes that had the Garden crowd holding its breath. Rookie VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick, looked right at home in his MSG debut, dropping 23 points on 10-of-18 from the field and flashing the kind of poise that suggests he’s going to be a problem for years to come.
And they did it without Joel Embiid.
The loss marked just the Knicks’ second defeat at home this season, dropping their Madison Square Garden record to 13-2 - still one of the best in the league. Only the Oklahoma City Thunder (24-2) and Detroit Pistons (11-2) boast better home marks.
The Knicks don’t have much time to dwell on this one. The Miami Heat are coming to town on Saturday, and with the Eastern Conference race as tight as ever, every game matters. But even in defeat, there’s a silver lining: if Mitchell Robinson’s free throw shooting is finally starting to click, the Knicks just got a little more dangerous.