It seemed almost impossible for Mitchell Robinson.
Being a seven-footer, he shouldn’t have been able to close the gap so swiftly against Jalen Brown.
Early in the second quarter, Robinson drove past Jrue Holiday toward the rim, prompting Holiday to kick the ball out to a wide-open Brown.
It looked like Brown was set for an easy three-pointer.
The Celtics’ bench players were already preparing to celebrate his shot.
But out of nowhere, Robinson raced in. Brown hesitated, noticing Robinson’s determination to defend.
Robinson not only kept up with Brown but also effectively wrapped him up for a few extra moments before stealing the ball.
Karl Anthony Towns capitalized on this moment, scoring on the other end and extending the Knicks’ lead to 13.
This play really set the tone early on—a snapshot of the Knicks’ tireless defensive mindset during their 119-81 victory over the Celtics in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
It was a stark contrast to what had happened just two nights earlier.
The Celtics, strikingly off their game, shot just 26.0% from the field and merely 29.3% from three-point territory.
They also turned the ball over 16 times, which the Knicks expertly converted into 22 points.
In Game 5, poor defensive communication had granted the Celtics too many open looks from beyond the arc.
After that loss, it felt like every Knicks player was echoing the same sentiment about needing to address these issues quickly.
Their messages revolved around playing with urgency and a sense of desperation, almost repetitive.
But on Friday night, the Knicks approached every three-pointer like it was their last chance.
They displayed sharp rotations on screens, attacking rebounds and loose balls with newfound intensity.
In the third quarter, Mikal Bridges was impressive, scoring 37 points. During a fast break, he stripped the ball from Brown, securing it for the Knicks.
The defensive effort was particularly evident against Derrick White.
After a standout performance in Game 5, where he shot 34 points on 7-13 from the floor, he found himself limited to just eight points on 8 attempts from three-point range.
Those open shots he had a few nights prior were now fiercely contested.
All season long, the Knicks struggled under Tom Thibodeau, losing some of the defensive intensity they were known for in the past.
However, that tough, defensive identity made a strong comeback on Friday night, propelling them into the Eastern Conference finals.
