Knicks coach explains dilemma with Celtics’ intentional fouls

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Knicks coach explains dilemma with Celtics’ intentional fouls

Souichi Terada · MassLive

Wed, Dec 3, 2025 ·

3 min read

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BOSTON — The Celtics and Knicks met again, and just like in last year's playoffs , C's coach Joe Mazzulla went to a similar tactic. Late in the first quarter of Tuesday's game, the Celtics intentionally fouled Mitchell Robinson on multiple possessions to send him to the free throw line.

Robinson, a career 51.6% free throw shooter, has struggled from the charity stripe. Knicks coach Mike Brown explained New York's strategy when it comes to Robinson getting intentionally fouled and whether to keep him in the game or not. The Celtics went on to beat the Knicks 123-117 on Tuesday at TD Garden.

"Especially at this point in the year, I'd like to give him the opportunity," Brown said. "He's worked extremely hard on his free throw attempts or his free throws. So I'd like to give him an opportunity if I can. I'm not opposed to making a change if we need to make a change at that point in the game."

Robinson finished 1-for-4 from the free throw line Tuesday, so he wasn't able to punish the Celtics. He came into the night shooting just 2-for-13 (15.4%) on free throws, so he's struggled immensely to open the year. And yes, that means he actually improved his free throw percentage to 17.6% after Tuesday's game.

However, there was a wrinkle that came from the intentional fouls Tuesday. Normally, teams can foul a guy to send him to the free throw line as long as they're at the foul limit for the quarter. However, intentional fouls aren't allowed within the last two minutes of every quarter.

So, that's what happened Tuesday when Baylor Scheierman fouled Robinson with 1:59 left in the first quarter. In that instance, the Knicks got a free throw and possession of the ball. They can also send any shooter to the line, so Jalen Brunson took and made the free throw. So it didn't quite work out for Boston in that instance.

The Celtics sent Robinson to the free throw line in multiple games during last year's East semifinals series. Boston did it frequently because Robinson was such a force on the offensive glass last year. But Robinson's impact was muted in Tuesday's game, finishing with one point and five rebounds in 16 minutes played.

"It's one of those things where you kind of watch and feel the game and feel the flow," Brown said. "And if he hits a couple of them, I'm going to leave him in because it's great for him to believe and for us to believe in him if we get the chance."

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