INDIANAPOLIS — Down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and facing elimination pressure, the New York Knicks made a bold move ahead of Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. Head coach Tom Thibodeau inserted Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup, giving the team a fresh look as it seeks to spark a turnaround.

This marks Robinson’s first start of the 2025 postseason and only his fourth since returning in February from offseason ankle surgery. His inclusion came at the expense of do-it-all forward Josh Hart, ending Hart’s impressive streak of 140 consecutive starts.

But Hart took the change in stride.

“I’ve been the 15th man, the sixth man — I’ve done it all,” he said ahead of Sunday’s game. “I feel like I’m a starter, but if Coach makes the call, I’m all in. I can’t preach sacrifice and then get upset when I’m asked to make one. That’s not who I am.”

Thibodeau Breaks From Tradition

The shake-up represents a significant departure from Thibodeau’s typical approach. All season long, he’s leaned heavily on a consistent starting five — Hart, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges — more than any coach in the league. But after getting outscored by 13 points in 17 minutes with that lineup in Game 2, change was overdue.

The numbers tell the story: Since January 1, that core group has been outscored by 59 points across 687 minutes. In just two games against the Pacers, they’re minus-29 in 43 minutes on the floor — allowing Indiana to score a blistering 155.1 points per 100 possessions.

When asked about the ongoing struggles, Thibodeau kept it short.
“Yeah, we just gotta keep looking at it. Gotta do better.”

And when pressed further about lineup changes after falling behind 2-0, his answer was blunt:
“We always look at everything.”

Robinson-Towns Combo Brings New Energy

Thibodeau ultimately went with a “double-big” look, pairing Towns and Robinson to try and dominate the boards and disrupt Indiana’s offense.

Robinson has averaged modest numbers in the playoffs — 4.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 19.5 minutes — but his impact is undeniable. When he and Towns are on the floor together, the Knicks are +27 in just 106 minutes, thanks largely to their defensive pressure and ability to crash the offensive glass. In fact, New York has recovered an eye-popping 41.5% of its own misses when that duo shares the court.

“Robinson’s a major factor,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “He gives them defensive versatility, especially with his ability to switch onto smaller players. He creates extra possessions, and he even knocked down free throws when it mattered in the Boston series. We’ve been preparing for him.”

Hart: It’s All About Energy

Regardless of who’s starting, Hart believes what the Knicks need most isn’t just a tactical shift — it’s a change in mindset.

“We need something drastic in terms of our energy, effort, and competitiveness,” Hart said. “You can’t have lapses, especially at the start. If you let a team like Indiana — as talented as they are offensively — get comfortable early, you’re playing catch-up. The biggest adjustment we can make is bringing intensity from the jump.”

Bottom Line:

With their backs against the wall, the Knicks are betting on fresh legs and tougher defense to get back into the series. Whether the lineup change pays off remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear — the urgency is real, and Game 3 could define their postseason fate.

Source: Yahoo Sports – Knicks vs. Pacers: Mitchell Robinson gets starting nod for Game 3; Josh Hart not fazed by bump to bench

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INGLEWOOD, Calif.  — In a thrilling Game 4, Aaron Gordon made NBA history with a buzzer-beating dunk that sealed the Denver Nuggets’ 101-99 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, tying the playoff series at 2-2.

As time expired, Nikola Jokic launched a turnaround three-pointer over Ivica Zubac, but it missed the mark. Enter Gordon, who soared in to slam home the rebound, delivering the game-winning dunk. The referees initially ruled the basket good, and after a quick review, it was confirmed that Gordon’s dunk had left his hands just before the buzzer sounded.

“It was a nice pass,” Gordon joked about Jokic’s airball. Jokic, for his part, had been less optimistic as he watched his shot miss. “This is going to be bad,” he admitted after seeing the ball sail past the rim.

The dramatic play marked the first game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in NBA playoff history since the 1997-98 season, a rare feat that thrilled the Nuggets and left the Clippers reeling.

Referee Zach Zarba explained the review process, stating that the key focus was whether the ball had left Gordon’s hand before the red light went on. “It has to be out of his hand when that red light is on,” Zarba clarified.

For Denver, the victory was bittersweet. They had squandered a 22-point lead earlier in the game, but Gordon’s clutch dunk spared them from an agonizing loss. “I’m glad it’ll be a Nugget day, not a Clipper day,” said Denver’s interim coach David Adelman.

It was another gut-punch for the Clippers, who had already suffered a crushing overtime defeat in Game 1. “It’s still a series, best-of-three,” said Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, remaining hopeful despite the heartbreaking loss.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the final minutes. The Clippers grabbed their first lead of the game at 97-96 on an offensive rebound and basket by Bogdan Bogdanovic. But Jokic’s free throw and a quick basket put the Nuggets back ahead at 99-97, before Zubac’s basket tied it once more.

The physicality picked up late, with a skirmish near the end of the first half leading to six technical fouls, including one on Jokic. Then, in the fourth quarter, the Clippers mounted a strong comeback, outscoring the Nuggets 34-16 to narrow the gap. But Gordon’s game-winner erased their hopes.

Jokic, the reigning MVP, had another monster game, finishing with 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists. Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun also contributed with 17 points each. Meanwhile, Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points, supported by Norman Powell’s 22 and Ivica Zubac’s 19 points and 12 rebounds.

The game saw tempers flare, with a mid-court melee in the closing seconds involving both teams. While the scuffle didn’t escalate to punches, it led to multiple technicals, including on Jokic, Gordon, and Braun for the Nuggets, and Harden, Powell, and Kris Dunn for the Clippers. The heated moment sparked chants of “Throw him out!” from the Clippers’ fans, but the Nuggets held their ground.

The game had started with a strong showing by Denver, who led by two at halftime before exploding in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-17 to take an 85-65 lead into the final frame.

The series now heads back to Denver for Game 5 on Monday, where both teams will battle it out in what promises to be another intense showdown. “This is going to be a dogfight every single game,” Powell warned, setting the stage for a tense finish to the series.

Injuries were a factor for the Clippers, as Russell Westbrook sat out with left foot inflammation, but they still had enough firepower to push the Nuggets to the brink.

As both teams prepare for Game 5, the series is anyone’s for the taking — and with history already written, the excitement is far from over.

Source: AP News – Aaron Gordon’s historic dunk at buzzer lifts Nuggets over Clippers 101-99 and ties series 2-2

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