Mike Brown, Knicks
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Head coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks in action from the bench.
The New York Knicks made a deliberate choice with Mitchell Robinson’s workload — one that prioritized conference positioning over a marquee interconference matchup.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown explained that the team opted to use Robinson in Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors rather than hold him for Wednesday’s nationally anticipated showdown against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
“[The Raptors] are in our conference and all that stuff,” Brown said before the game, per the New York Post. “Oklahoma City is in the Western Conference.”
The decision reflects the Knicks’ ongoing strategy of managing Robinson’s workload while maximizing games that could impact the Eastern Conference standings.
Knicks Improve to 40–22 With Raptors Win
The plan paid off.
The Knicks improved to 40–22 with a 111–95 victory over Toronto, pulling away late with a defensive surge that sealed the game in the fourth quarter.
The win also continued New York’s recent dominance over the Raptors. The Knicks now hold the tiebreaker against the No. 5-seeded Raptors, with a 3–0 record in their regular-season series, and have beaten Toronto 12 consecutive times dating back to the 2023–24 season, including their NBA Cup quarterfinal win earlier in the season.
Robinson finished with two points, 10 rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes — his highest playing time since a Feb. 6 loss in Detroit.
Robinson Overcomes Injury Scare
Jakob Poeltl, Mitchell Robinson, Knicks
GettyJakob Poeltl of the Toronto Raptors and Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks battle for a loose ball.
Robinson’s performance came despite a brief scare earlier in the game.
The Knicks center clutched his surgically repaired ankle and came up limping after battling for a rebound in the first quarter. He briefly left the floor but returned later after getting his ankle re-taped.
Robinson ultimately played in the second half and helped anchor the Knicks’ defense down the stretch.
“I feel great. It’s awesome,” Robinson said, via the New York Post. “This plan we’re on, we should just stick to it.”
Robinson explained that the issue was resolved quickly once he returned to the locker room.
“I came in here, re-taped, sat my ass right here [in the locker room] and listened to coach and went right back out,” Robinson said.
Knicks Stick to Back-to-Back Strategy
The Knicks have not used Robinson in back-to-back games all season as part of a carefully structured durability plan.
That strategy means Robinson is expected to sit out Wednesday’s matchup against Oklahoma City, even though the game carries intrigue as a possible NBA Finals preview.
By using Robinson against Toronto — an Eastern Conference opponent — the Knicks maximized the competitive value of his availability while sticking to their health management plan.
Thunder Enter Matchup With NBA’s Best Record
The matchup against Oklahoma City still represents a major test.
The Thunder remain atop the league with a 48–15 record, emerging as one of the NBA’s most complete teams this season.
Recent history has also favored Oklahoma City in the matchup, as the Knicks have lost their last four meetings against the Thunder.
But Brown made clear that the standings implications of conference games played a role in his decision.
Remaining Back-to-Back Games Could Impact Playoff Race
New York will face similar decisions later in the schedule.
After the Thunder game, the Knicks still have two more back-to-back sets remaining:
How the Knicks navigate Robinson’s availability during those stretches could have significant playoff implications in what remains a tightly contested Eastern Conference race.
For now, the Knicks’ strategy delivered the desired result — the tiebreaker over conference rival Toronto and another step forward to a more favorable seeding in the postseason.