Jayesh Pagar
The New York Knicks are now facing a harsh reality: decisions made after Game 2 may have directly contributed to their Game 3 heartbreak.
After falling 109-108 to the Atlanta Hawks and slipping behind 2-1 in the series, questions are growing louder around Mike Brown’s rotation choices, particularly his decision to limit Mitchell Robinson’s role.
Mike Brown, Knicks, and the Mitchell Robinson Call
The context matters now more than ever. Mike Brown’s statement about the KAT–Mitchell Robinson pairing came before Game 3.
“The combination of [KAT and Mitch] hasn’t been great, so I’m choosing to not play them together in this series because of the matchups.”
That decision translated directly into Game 3 rotations. Robinson played only 11 limited minutes and was largely absent in key stretches, particularly late in the game, when defensive stops and rebounding were critical.
Brown defended his team postgame, saying: “I liked the fight our guys showed… we gave ourselves a chance down the stretch.”
But the stats tell a different story: the Knicks didn’t have a strong enough presence inside the paint when it really counted.
Karl-Anthony Towns vs Mitchell Robinson Impact
Karl-Anthony Towns did his part. He wrapped up the game with 21 points and 17 rebounds, consistently showing up on both ends of the floor and helping the Knicks bit by bit erase a double-digit deficit.
But basketball is not a one-man show. When Mitchell Robinson was not on the floor for long stretches to lead the defense, the Knicks fell into trouble with second-chance opportunities and rim protection, two things Robinson is very good at.
Atlanta took full advantage of this. Onyeka Okongwu and the other players were able to get inside quite easily, while the guards were also more successful in attacking the paint. The Knicks may technically have dominated the paint according to the numbers, but the Hawks got the better of some very important possessions, especially late rebounds and defensive rotations.
In such a close game, these things can be the difference between winning and losing.
Knicks Under Pressure After Back-to-Back Losses
Their anger does not start and end with losing one game – it is the whole situation. Two consecutive losses, both in the final moments, have made Brown a subject of intense criticism.
Towns acknowledged the issue clearly: “We fought… but we need to close out the game. We just didn’t today.”
And that’s the main point. The Knicks are fighting, even coming out strong, but their player substitutions and performance in the closing stages are letting them down.
The decision to limit Robinson might have been a tactical move targeting the match-up, but Game 3 revealed the price.
If being a tough, rebounding, defensive team is part of your identity, then not having your best interior player on the floor in the final minutes is a big risk.
Currently, it is a risk that is not bearing fruit.
