Mitchell Robinson, who was on the verge of missing Sunday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, instead delivered a massive breakthrough performance for the Boston Celtics in their dominant 117-97 victory. The 28-year-old big man had been struggling to find his rhythm in his first year with Boston, but he absolutely turned a corner when his team needed him.
From Questionable to Unstoppable
It’s tough when you’re the new guy, right? Robinson admitted it himself after the win, saying, “Been in New York for eight years and year nine I’m in Boston. Totally two different game plays, and it’s something that I’ve gotta learn, but I feel like it’s going well.” He was initially destined to sit this one out in Milwaukee, but the team upgraded him to active just hours before tipoff. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla played him off the bench, bringing him in for Derrick White with 7:03 left in the first quarter, and Robinson went to work immediately. In his first minute on the floor, he pulled down a defensive rebound, sprinted to the other end, grabbed an offensive board, and then finished a clean putback layup. Just two possessions later, he connected with Jayson Tatum for an alley-oop dunk, something the two had openly struggled to execute in previous weeks. Robinson laughed it off later, admitting, “We’re working on it. JT be throwing it to the moon sometimes. But we’re working on it.”
The Big Mitch Show Arrives
Robinson’s signature toughness and motor kicked into high gear, showing a side of him the Celtics hadn’t really seen in his first eight appearances. Before the first quarter was even over, he already recorded two steals, later setting a new season-high with four, and added two more rebounds. He finished the night perfect, going 6-for-6 from the field for 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a block in just over 18 minutes. For the first time all season, Robinson finally looked like “Big Mitch,” the presence everyone knows he can be. That perfect 6-for-6 also marked a new season-high in field goal makes, giving Robinson a huge boost to build on moving forward.
Teammates Are Hyped
The locker room was buzzing after the game, with teammates thrilled for Robinson’s breakout. Paul George didn’t hold back, telling NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin, “A great bounceback game for Big Mitch. I thought he was amazing with his effort, his energy, keeping balls alive, screening. I thought he was vocal out here. He was a presence at the rim. Everything that he does well, he put it on display here, and he made a big impact.” Coach Mazzulla has always commended Robinson for his honesty and frustration about his early struggles, and it seems that self-awareness is paying off. Tatum echoed the sentiment, telling reporters, “It’s a learning curve. New system, new teammates. Taking more ownership, just understanding.” Everyone understands the challenge of a new system and new teammates, but Robinson has shown he’s ready to put in the work, and the Celtics are clearly ready to support him every step of the way. This kind of performance is exactly what he, and the team, needed.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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