Mitchell Robinson walked into the locker room late Wednesday night, his jersey still on, and announced his arrival as only he can.
“Foul that,” he said emphatically.
The Knicks’ 7-foot center had reason to celebrate.
His unlikely clutch free-throw shooting helped the Knicks extend their season for at least one more game with a 112-103 victory over the Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Miami intentionally fouled Robinson twice in the fourth quarter, as opponents once used to do to Shaquille O’Neal, and Robinson hit three of four to the delight of the Garden crowd.
“It felt great in that moment for them to believe in me,” Robinson said, referring to the sold-out crowd. “Knocking them down for the team and stuff like that, it’s amazing.”
The Heat first fouled Robinson with 5:17 left and the Knicks leading by six. At that point, he had been 7-for-25 from the line in the postseason. He split a pair.
The next time down, he was fouled again. This time, he sank both free throws. The building exploded in cheers.
The Knicks were surprised by the strategy, Jalen Brunson said. It didn’t shake Robinson. He didn’t take it personally, either.
“It’s part of basketball,” he said.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
- Vaccaro: Knicks’ failure to help Brunson is why their season’s over
- Knicks battle but fall in season-ending Game 6 loss to Heat
- Knicks couldn’t survive two minutes without Brunson
- Brunson’s heroic night spoiled by late turnover
The first time he was fouled, only one thought crossed his mind.
“I’m knocking these down,” Robinson said.
The free throws were only a part of his bounce-back performance. He had eight points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals, while limiting Bam Adebayo to just six second-half points. The Knicks out-rebounded the Heat by 16 after losing the battle on the boards in the previous two games, in Miami.
“Maximum effort. Rebounding,” Robinson said. “That’s mainly what this game comes down to, is the rebounding. Whoever wins the rebounding match, nine out of 10 that’s who wins the game.”