Mitchell Robinson should get more playing time in Game 3 : Josh Hart

Josh Hart is lobbying for more Mitchell Robinson minutes.

After the Knicks fell into an 0-2 hole in the Eastern Conference finals, Hart suggested that the 7-footer see more time.

“We have to figure out ways — I think he played [29] minutes — figure out ways if he can play more,” Hart said following this 114-109 loss at the Garden. “We’re great with him on [the floor]. We all got to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team.”

The Knicks starters have been outscored by 81 points in the playoffs, and they were again outplayed Friday, digging the Knicks an early 19-9 hole.

They also allowed a 15-7 run to start the third quarter. Coach Tom Thibodeau has been resistant to a shake-up with his first five.

Asked about a potential change after the loss, he said: “We always look at everything.”

He played Robinson a postseason-high 29 minutes in Game 2, and Robinson delivered six points, nine rebounds, three blocks and a team-best plus-six rating.

Mitchell Robinson blocks Tyrese Haliburton’s shot in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 114-109
Game 2 loss to the Pacers on May 23, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

So far in this series, the Knicks have outscored the Pacers by six points when Robinson is on the floor and have been outscored by 14 when he isn’t.

With just over a half-minute left, the Knicks had possession down three.

Jalen Brunson was searching for an open 3-pointer attempt when he opted to give up the ball for a wide open Josh Hart layup that cut the deficit to one.

A dejected Jalen Brunson looks down at the court during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 2 loss to the Pacers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It left 14.8 seconds on the clock.

“I mean, I was looking for a 3 but I saw him wide open with enough time to kind of play the trap, steal, foul game,” Brunson said. “Obviously, it didn’t go in our favor. We had more than enough time and opportunity to get to where we wanted to get to.”

Aaron Nesmith made two free throws and Brunson was forced into a deep, desperation 3 that was way offoff.

Karl-Anthony Towns sat much of the fourth quarter, logging just five minutes.

He was minus-20 in 28 minutes and struggled on the defensive end all night.

“We got in a hole and then the group that was in there gave us a chance, so we just were riding that,” Thibodeau said. “We were just searching for a way to win.”