Mitchell Robinson’s Technical Foul Overturned
Mitchell Robinson, the center for the New York Knicks, had his technical foul from Game 2 of the NBA Finals retracted by the league.
In a nail-biting match on Friday, which the Knicks won 105-104 to push their series lead to 2-0, Robinson found himself in a tussle with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. This happened not long before halftime, and it led to a whistle blowing amidst both players jostling for position.
Interestingly, only Robinson ended up with a technical foul despite the physicality displayed by both. It seemed like a bit of a lapse, as Wembanyama had thrown his hands up after the play, which might have led to the foul.
This incident took place with just under five minutes left in the first half and had implications for the game, especially since Karl-Anthony Towns needed to get back on the court. The foul led to a free throw that could have potentially put the Knicks at a disadvantage—but they managed to hold onto the victory as they head back to Madison Square Garden for their first Finals appearance since 1999 against the same Spurs.
Robinson appeared to be looking forward to Game 3, especially since he would be playing in front of President Trump.
With the game hanging in the balance, Wembanyama had a critical turnover and fouled Jalen Brunson. This led to Brunson making one of his two free throws for the deciding point. He then missed a shot that could have altered the outcome, which added to the tension of the moment.
Robinson was tasked with defending Wembanyama during that sequence and reacted visibly when the towering player attempted his shot, which ultimately hit the rim. Though the Spurs had Devin Vassell grab the rebound, there just wasn’t enough time left for them to convert.
In the end, Robinson logged 14 minutes on the floor, contributing seven points, three rebounds, one block, and one steal to the Knicks’ cause.
Playing through the Finals with a surgically repaired pinky finger, he had sustained the injury just prior to the game against the Spurs—a testament to his commitment as the Knicks had some downtime after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Robinson plays a crucial role on Coach Mike Brown’s squad, stepping up as one of the impactful bench players this season. He not only challenges Towns when he finds himself in foul trouble but also fortifies the defense, grabbing rebounds and executing occasional alley-oops.
The Spurs opted for a “hack-a-Mitch” strategy when Towns faced foul difficulties, trying to exploit that situation in the second quarter of Game 2. While Robinson managed to draw some fouls, he’s struggled significantly at the free-throw line, converting only 32% of his attempts throughout the playoffs.
Should opportunities arise again, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is likely to revisit that tactic. Both teams are certainly matching physicality as the finals continue. Fortunately for the Knicks, NBA officials decided the technical called on Robinson shouldn’t have been assessed, so it didn’t factor into their victory at the game’s conclusion.
