The New York Knicks got perhaps their biggest win of the regular season on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, defeating them 137–114 inside Madison Square Garden.

Despite being down four points heading into the second half, the Knicks managed to flip things around for the better, prioritizing defense and making smarter plays with the ball — leading them to score 80+ points combined in the third and fourth quarters. It was one of those nights where every rotation piece contributed, and the team’s energy on both ends of the floor set the tone for the blowout finish.

One of the team’s biggest contributors of the night was Mitchell Robinson, who arguably had his best performance of the young season, recording eight points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Most impressively, Robinson was able to snatch nine offensive rebounds, a number that alone tied Rudy Gobert’s total rebounds for the entire game. His relentless effort on the glass gave New York endless second-chance opportunities and completely disrupted Minnesota’s interior defense.

OG's Comments

After the game ended, Robinson’s teammate and Defensive Player of the Year candidate, OG Anunoby, had plenty of praise for his starting center.

“I knew before I got here that Mitch was special. And just seeing him every day, it's amazing. No one can do what he does,” Anunoby said. “He impacts the game in ways that nobody else can — blocking shots, just everything he does. He’s amazing defensively, and he helps our team a lot.”

The Mitchell Robinson Effect

It’s clear what this Knicks team can do when Mitchell Robinson is healthy and an active member of the lineup on a nightly basis. Having appeared in just three of their seven total games, he’s averaging 4.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks across only 16.3 minutes of action. That’s not just efficiency at its finest — it’s exactly what New York has needed to stabilize its frontcourt and maintain its defensive identity.

“Absolute beat up on the glass,” said Minnesota head coach Chris Finch. “Thirty-one second-chance points — they beat us to every ball.”

Robinson has started to find his footing early on, even in limited minutes. In his first start against the Bulls on Halloween, he logged 20 minutes and snatched 11 rebounds. In Sunday’s matchup against Chicago, he played just 13 minutes before an ankle injury cut his playing time short. Fast-forward to Wednesday night, Robinson logged 16 minutes but made every one of them count.

The Plan Going Forward

It’s clear the Knicks are still taking a cautious approach with Robinson as the season continues, understanding that he might not yet be ready for a heavier workload. Head coach Mike Brown has outlined a rough game plan for the big man, sprinkling him about 3–4 minutes per quarter. The key has been his impact when he’s on the floor — whether it’s blocking defenders on a fast break, cleaning the glass, or creating second-chance points from offensive rebounds.

It’s clear the job’s not finished.

Neither is Mitchell Robinson.