The New York Knicks lost to the Atlanta Hawks, 139-124, on Friday night. It was their third loss in a row.
This was the first game in a while that New York started without center Mitchell Robinson, who is out for several weeks with an injured thumb. And the absence of Big Mitch was certainly felt from the opening tip, as the Hawks were getting whatever they want. Head coach Tom Thibodeau decided not to alter their standard drop defense, which relies so heavily on Mitch’s presence in the paint. Instead, he merely hoped that Jericho Sims and Isaiah Hartenstein could approximate Mitch’s production.