Robinson anchored the Knicks' historic blowout win with a defensive masterclass.
The New York Knicks finally snapped their four-game losing streak in the best way possible on Wednesday night, crushing the Brooklyn Nets 120-66 in the most one-sided victory in franchise history.
After enduring a rough stretch where they lost nine of their last 11 games, the Knicks delivered a statement performance fueled by elite defense and strong communication on the floor, and head coach Mike Brown wasted no time crediting Mitchell Robinson for his impact.
Mike Brown Highlights Robinson's Defensive Excellence
"Their communication was off the charts," Brown said following the blowout win. "The guys talking and trying to help one another on that end of the floor. Mitch was our defensive player of the game."
Robinson continues to show why the Knicks need him when healthy, and his performance against the Nets reinforced that notion.
The 7-footer finished with seven rebounds and stuffed the stat sheet while anchoring a defense that held Brooklyn to just 66 points on 29 percent shooting from the field.
That kind of suffocating effort was something New York desperately needed after struggling defensively during their recent skid.
The Knicks (26-18) are now 17-6 at home this season and extended their winning streak against the Nets to 13 consecutive games.
Brooklyn (12-30) has dropped eight of their last nine contests as they continue their rebuild under head coach Jordi Fernandez.
The 54-point margin of victory shattered the Knicks' previous record of 48 points.
A Complete Team Effort
While Robinson locked things down defensively, the offense was clicking as well.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 20 points, and Landry Shamet went 6-for-6 from beyond the arc, adding 18 points off the bench.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging 21.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this season, chipped in with another solid outing as New York shot 57.5 percent from the field.
The defensive effort was particularly impressive given how badly the Knicks struggled on that end during their losing streak.
They outscored the Nets 12-0 in second-chance points and 29-4 on the fast break.
Robinson's rim protection helped set the tone early and forced Brooklyn into difficult shots all night.
Looking Ahead
The win gives the Knicks some momentum heading into a tough stretch of their schedule.
They travel to Philadelphia on Saturday to face the 76ers, a team that has already beaten them twice this season at Madison Square Garden.
After that, they return home to host the Sacramento Kings before heading to Toronto and then welcoming the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers to the Garden in early February.
Getting Robinson consistently involved will be key for New York moving forward.
His ability to protect the rim, clean up on the offensive glass, and communicate defensively gives the Knicks a different dimension when he is healthy and playing well.
If Robinson can keep delivering performances like the one he had against the Nets, the Knicks will be a much tougher team to beat as the second half of the season unfolds.