'Foul That!' Mitchell Robinson Embraces Free Throw Duty in Knicks' Game 5 Win

Perhaps forgotten in the wake of Jalen Brunson's complete game, Mitchell Robinson came through for the New York Knicks when the Miami Heat tried to turn him into a scapegoat.

The best things in life are free ... throws.

Mitchell Robinson couldn't agree with that statement before Wednesday night. The New York Knicks' fifth-year center is on pace for a solid NBA career, having established himself as a credible threat within the immediate vicinity of the basket. 

Those talents were on display as the Knicks faced elimination against the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Wednesday night: Robinson was the headliner of the Knicks' resurgent rebounding effort, pulling in 11 as the Knicks had a 50-36 advantage in the 112-103 victory that staved off elimination.

“That’s mainly what this game comes down to, is the rebounding," Robinson said, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post. "Whoever wins the rebounding match, nine out of 10 that’s who wins the game.”

Seeing Robinson, however, tee up from the uncolored areas of the floor is uncommon: less than nine percent of his career field goal attempts have come beyond three feet. That certainly makes free throw attempts from 15 feet out a problem, and Robinson sank only 48 percent of his opportunities over an otherwise fruitful, if not eventful, regular season. 

But, like so many other teammates on Wednesday night, Robinson came through when it mattered most.

The Heat, their third conference appearance in four seasons delayed by a New York lead that got as high as 19, staged a comeback through inside and outside means: Duncan Robinson and Max Strus united for nine triples before the team opted for physical methods of stopping the Knicks' offensive endeavors.

With the Knicks' backcourt leaders Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes going the distance and Julius Randle finding a second half groove, Miami slowed things by hacking Robinson and getting him to the foul line when he touched the ball in the middle stages of the fourth quarter. It was a strategy reminiscent of the "Hack-a-Shaq" method that'd follow Shaquille O'Neal during his time in South Beach and beyond, as free throws proved to be one of the few sources of kryptonite for the die-hard Superman fan.

It's a good thing there's no catchy name for a similar method concerning Robinson, He perhaps dispelled the notion of teams putting him at the foul line by hitting 4-of-6 in the fourth quarter, helping the Knicks keep a tenuous, if not lasting, lead. 

Miami attacked Robinson twice at the midway mark. He hit one of two in the first tries at 5:17 but was a perfect 2-of-2 when they did again 30 seconds later. A raucous New York crowd chanted Robinson's name as he put up the shots and continued to do when head coach Tom Thibodeau spared him from further relative assaults by taking him out for Isaiah Hartenstein, whose crucial putback on an offensive board (one of nine he'd unite to earn with Robinson) kickstarted a 9-2 run over the final 2:07 force a sixth game.

According to The Post, Robinson loudly declared "Foul that!" as he returned to the Knicks' locker room in the victorious aftermath. Entering Wednesday's game, he had sunk just 7-of-25 free throw attempts during the Knicks' ongoing playoff run and 3-of-14 in the four games against the Heat.

When it came to a sensational six in the fourth of Game 5, however, Robinson found a bit of a groove.

“It felt great in that moment for (the fans) to believe in me,” Robinson said of the fateful freebies, per Steve Popper of Newsday. “Knocking them down for the team and stuff like that, it’s amazing.”

"I think we have confidence in Mitch no matter what the situation is," Brunson added in the same report. "If he goes up there and misses them, he misses them. We’re going to have his back on the other side of the ball. We have great confidence in him.”

Robinson's efforts helped the Knicks create a sixth game in the ongoing semifinal series, which is scheduled to continue on Friday night in Miami (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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