Knicks Rally With Lineup Change To Win Game 3 Eastern Conference Finals

In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks made a strategic starting lineup change by inserting Mitchell Robinson at center in place of Josh Hart, a move initiated by Hart himself to counter their 0-2 series deficit. This adjustment helped the Knicks avoid slow starts seen in earlier games, with Robinson contributing six points and six rebounds, while Hart, coming off the bench, logged 34 minutes and secured 10 rebounds, significantly impacting the team's late-game rally. Coach Tom Thibodeau maintained that the minutes for both players remained consistent despite the lineup switch, emphasizing their versatility and unselfishness. The lineup change facilitated more time at power forward for Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Knicks overcome a 20-point deficit to win 106-100. Additionally, Thibodeau expanded his rotation, giving meaningful minutes to Delon Wright and Landry Shamet, which contributed to the Knicks' comeback and deeper bench performance. This collective effort and coach's flexibility may have been pivotal in preserving the Knicks' playoff hopes as they seek to even the series in Game 4.