Knicks' Mitchell Robinson no match for Heat's Bam Adebayo
MIAMI — Mitchell Robinson didn’t have many memorable moments in the Eastern Conference semifinals, aside from the key free throws that electrified the Garden and helped the Knicks win Game 5 over the Heat.
On Friday night, Robinson and backup center Isaiah Hartenstein had another quiet game against All-Star center Bam Adebayo, who had 23 points and nine rebounds in the Heat’s series-clinching 96-92 Game 6 win.
“Bam is a heck of a player. … He’s a great competitor, tremendous respect for him, and they kept bodies on Mitch,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “But I give Mitch a lot of credit. He had 11 rebounds, he had five offensively and he was getting that with bodies hanging all over him, draped all over him.
“Mitch had a number of good plays, blitzing the pick and roll. … All that he learned from this series is good for him. Overall, I’m very pleased with the series Mitch had.”
Robinson, who sank four of six free throws with Miami intentionally fouling him in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night in New York, finished with two points — also on two late free throws — and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes in the Knicks’ season-ending loss.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson defends Heat center Bam Adebayo. Corey Sipkin
Before hitting six of his final eight attempts from the line, Robinson previously had been shooting a horrendous 28 percent (7-for-28) during the playoffs. He finished his first postseason with averages of 6.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in 11 games.
“I thought we could beat anybody. We went against some great teams and beat some and lost some. Overall we did all right,” Robinson said. “There were a lot of doubts out there.
“So we’ve got to learn from our mistakes. The thing about it is we’re young. So we’ve got plenty of time to grow and get better, just learn from our mistakes, That’s what we’ve got to do.”
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
The Heat shot 45.0 percent from 3-point range in their five-game elimination of the top-seeded Bucks in a massive first-round upset, a significant improvement from their 27th place ranking (34.4 percent) out of 30 NBA teams during the regular season.
They vanquished the Knicks despite shooting 30.6 percent in the six games, including 7-for-27 from long distance in Game 6.
Knicks sixth man Immanuel Quickley missed a third straight game with a sprained left ankle suffered in Game 3.
Fast Break
Hero
The Knicks had no answer for Bam Adebayo throughout the series, and they couldn’t slow him down Friday night. The Heat’s two-time All-Star center badly outplayed Mitchell Robinson again as Miami outscored the Knicks in the paint, 38-20.
Zero
Take your pick.
Julius Randle shot 3-for-14. RJ Barrett was 1-for-10.
Jalen Brunson didn’t get nearly enough help from that duo, which was a combined 1-for-10 from 3-point range and committed six of the Knicks’ 12 turnovers.
Julius Randle (30) shot 3-for-14 from the field in Game 6. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Randle and Barrett combined for 26 inefficient points, and just 13 after the first quarter.
Unsung Hero
Even in defeat, Brunson was brilliant.
He became the first Knick since Patrick Ewing in 1990 to produce three consecutive 30-point playoff games.
He had 41 points on 14-for-22 shooting in 45 minutes, two days after not sitting for a second in a memorable 38-point showing.
Key Stat
26.5 The shooting percentage for the Knicks — other than Brunson — as they finished a brutal 13-for-49.
— Zach Braziller
Source: New York Post
