In a surprising twist ahead of Game 2 between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, both teams found themselves without their starting centers. The Knicks announced shortly before tipoff that backup big man Mitchell Robinson would miss the game due to an illness, joining 76ers star Joel Embiid on the sideline—Embiid was earlier ruled out with a sprained right ankle and sore right hip.

Robinson's absence is a significant blow for the Knicks, especially given his impact on both ends of the floor. Known for his relentless offensive rebounding and defensive presence, Robinson provides the team with the flexibility to deploy a big lineup alongside All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns. His energy off the bench has been a key factor in New York's postseason run.

Through seven playoff games, Robinson has been remarkably efficient, converting an incredible 17 of 19 shots (89.5%) from the field. He's averaging 5.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in just 13.6 minutes per game. However, his Achilles' heel remains the free-throw line, where he has struggled mightily, connecting on only 5 of 17 attempts. In Game 1, the 76ers exploited this weakness by intentionally fouling him twice in the first quarter—Robinson missed all four free throws.

With both teams missing key interior players, Wednesday's matchup took on a different dynamic, forcing adjustments in rotations and game plans on the fly.