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Knicks' Mitchell Robinson changed how he shoots free throws and it paid off against 76ers

Despite the Knicks' loss to the 76ers on Friday, there was one bright spot for New York.

Mitchell Robinson had his best offensive performance of the season in the team's 116-107 loss at MSG, and the big man has the free-throw line to thank for his offensive explosion.

Entering Friday's game, Robinson was 6-for-27 in the regular season from the charity stripe. He eclipsed that mark in one night, going 7-for-8 in his 21-point performance against Philadelphia.

"He’s been working hard at it. It’s a process," head coach Mike Brown said of Robinson's free throws after the game. "[Shooting coach] Peter Patton, Mark Bryant has done a great job with him, but more importantly, Mitch has bought into what they are trying to work with him on when it comes to free-throw shooting. 

"It’s good to see, anytime you can see positive results, it breeds confidence not just in the individual but also in the rest of the group. It’s good for him tonight to do that."

Robinson's teammates also acknowledged the work he's been putting in.

"He’s been working, going early, getting his shots up," Josh Hart said of his teammate. "His hard work is paying off."

"It was due, we seen him working hard with our shooting coach Peter Patton. He's in the gym everyday, shooting free throws, trying to get better," Tyler Kolek said. "He’s got all the touch on the offensive rebounds and stuff, so just a mindset to get his touch at the free-throw line." 

"He’s working, he’s concentrating, and he’s seeing the progress on his work," Jalen Brunson added. "Very happy for him, very proud of him. Just gotta have to continue it."

Robinson said the coaches have had him change his shot, specifically putting more arc on the ball instead of the line drives that fans are used to seeing. He got up at 10 a.m. Friday to get in some practice before the game, and, despite Robinson admitting it's too early for him, it paid off. Robinson says his early-morning shooting will be part of his gameday routine.  

"Feel way more comfortable, getting my elbow in the air a little more," Robinson explained. "It’s been great."

Robinson had never hit seven free throws in a game before. He even made 76ers head coach Nick Nurse pay for utilizing the hack-a-Mitch strategy in the third quarter. Robinson knocked down both free throws and even motioned toward the Sixers bench.

"I’m trying to stop everybody from hacking and s***. That's the main goal," Robinson said. "I want to play the fourth quarter. The longer I'm out there, the longer I can help my teammates." 

Robinson gave the Knicks all he had and they needed it. The grueling schedule this week took its toll on the Knicks. OG Anunoby and Hart scored a combined seven points and Brunson was off. Despite scoring 22 points, the Knicks guard was just 7-for-22 from the field and 1-for-7 from three. 

With the usual offensive pieces unable to score, Robinson's contributions were massive.

"Mitch is going to be impactful whether the ball’s going in for him or not. That’s who he is as a player and a teammate," Brunson said. "He’s going to find ways to impact the game. When that’s happening to us as well, we have to try and capitalize and try to win games." 

Not only did Robinson find paydirt at the line, but he also scored a season-high 21 points and had his first double-double of the year, after coming down with 16 rebounds. He also had two blocks, one steal, and an assist. 

"Just the energy, my teammates. They were penetrating and stuff like that and I was just trying to help there," Robinson said of his performance. "For me, it’s just help my team, help us have a better chance at winning."

And although Robinson feels good after his best game of the season, the win would have made it mean more. He'll have his chance to help the Knicks get back in the win column when they welcome the Heat to the Garden on Sunday.

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Knicks can't overcome turnover issues in 116-107 loss to 76ers

The Knicks were unable to overcome 18 turnovers as they lost to the 76ers, 116-107, on Friday night at MSG.

It was the second of a back-to-back for New York and their third game in four days after their NBA Cup win on Tuesday. The Knicks suffered just their second loss at home this season and their six-game winning streak ended. 

After Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson missed Thursday's game against the Pacers, all three returned to action on Friday and all contributed, but it just wasn't enough. Fatigue hit New York, especially Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, who both played against Indiana. 

Despite outrebounding the Sixers, 61-42, the team hit a wall.

Here are the takeaways...

-The Knicks had seven first-quarter turnovers against the Pacers, which led to their double-digit deficit. It was just a tad better on Friday, turning the ball over five times, as the Knicks and Sixers entered the second quarter tied at 29-29. The turnovers were negated by the Knicks shooting 57 percent from the field. And while Philly shot 41 percent, they had no answers for Tyrese Maxey, who returned to the lineup after missing the last two games. Maxey scored 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting (2 of 4 from three) while Dominick Barlow added nine points to help lead the 76ers lead for most of the opening frame. 

-With Brunson and Hart on the bench for the first half of the second, the lineup of KAT, Mikal Bridges, Tyler Kolek, Anunoby and Robinson provided elite defense to help the Knicks take the lead. Robinson in particular had a pair of big blocks and went 3-for-4 at the free throw line to score seven of his nine points in the frame, setting his season-high for a game.

It was a back-and-forth quarter but an and-one three from Brunson in the final minutes helped the Knicks take a 59-57 lead into halftime. Philadelphia dominated from three, hitting 9 of 25 threes in the first half, while the Knicks were just 4-for-17 from downtown. However, without Joel Embiid (illness), the Knicks outrebounded the Sixers 35-19 through the first two quarters.

-Philly got out to a seven-point lead -- matching their game-high -- thanks to the three-point shot from everyone on the court and the Knicks lack of three-point makes. However, the Knicks would go on an 8-0 run thanks to a couple of threes and the Sixers missing their shots. It was back and forth from there even when Maxey took a seat for the final five minutes of the third. But rookie VJ Edgecombe took over offensively, making shots and facilitating. 

In the waning minutes, it was Robinson who brought the Knicks back. The Sixers tried to hack-a-Mitch and the big man made them pay. He scored five points, and made a career-high seven free throws (he finished 7 of 8 from the line). The Knicks could have taken a lead into the fourth, but mental lapses, turnovers and silly fouls allowed the Sixers to take an 88-87 lead, which could have been a bigger deficit if Philadelphia had capitalized on the Knicks' mistakes.

-The final frame was sloppy on both ends, but Philadelphia built a five-point lead with their efficient three-point shooting with eight minutes to go. Despite heroics from Robinson, fatigue hit the Knicks as the play of Maxey and Edgecombe overwhelmed New York.

The guards helped build a nine-point lead in the final minute as the Knicks fell 116-107.

-Kolek checked in to start the second quarter to a good ovation from the MSG crowd, but he picked up two quick fouls. Head coach Mike Brown stuck with the young guard and he settled down, but a couple of turnovers and a third foul put a damper on Kolek's night. He finished with two points on 1-for-3 shooting with two assists and two rebounds but turned the ball over four times and inflicted five personal fouls.

Anunoby had a rough shooting night. He went 1-for-9 (0-for-4 from three) for two points. He did provide elite defense and intangibles but the Knicks could have used his scoring in this one. 

Brunson and Towns both finished with 22 points but the Knicks guard went 7-for-22 and 1 of 7 from three. Bridges added 21 points while Robinson had a season-high 21 points on 7-for-8 shooting and an improbable 7-for-8 at the line. 

Game MVP: Tyrese Maxey

Maxey did it all for the Sixers. Whenever he was on the court, he was near-unguardable. 

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks return to action on their home court for a Sunday night game against the Miami Heat. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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Buffalo Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins breaks left leg against Flyers. Expected to miss 6-8 weeks

NHL: Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken

Dec 14, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins (21) passes the puck during the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images

Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said defenseman Conor Timmins is expected to miss between six to eight weeks after breaking his left leg in the third period of a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night .

Timmins was hurt with 5:20 left in regulation in what appeared to be a non-contact injury while several players battled for a puck along the boards in the neutral zone. A replay showed Timmins' left skate may have caught a rut in leading to his left leg bending awkwardly.

The 27-year-old has seven season of NHL experience and in his first year in Buffalo after signing a two-year contract in free agency last summer. Timmins has six assists in 32 games, with the injury expected to sideline him through the NHL's Olympic break in February.

Ruff did not have an immediate update center Tyler Kozak, who left the game with upper body injury in the second period.

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Jonatan Berggren Scores with Blues, Speaks After Red Wings Exit

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The tenure of former Detroit Red Wings 2018 second round (33rd overall) pick Jonatan Berggren came to an official close this week, as he was placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by the St. Louis Blues. 

In his second game with the Blues on Thursday night against the New York Rangers at Enterprise Center, he demonstrated why the Red Wings once viewed him as a potential key contributor on offense by sniping a shot past goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

While the Rangers ultimately fell by a 2-1 score in overtime, Berggren said that he felt comfortable in his new surroundings.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

“I just play my game,” Berggren said. “I haven't played a lot of hockey this season, so it's just fun to be out there and be with the boys and play good hockey. … It's easy for me to adapt, a really fun group and very skillful. So yeah, they make it easy for me.” 

While he began the game playing alongside another former Red Wings forward in Pius Suter, he would later be elevated to the top line alongside Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. 

“I just try to play my game and hopefully keep doing that and play good," Berggren continued. "It's super fun to play with those two guys. Really skillful players. So yeah, let's keep going.”

Berggren showed flashes of offensive upside during his rookie campaign with the Red Wings, scoring 15 goals in 67 games. However, he was unable to secure a roster spot with the club the following season, playing the majority of 2023-24 with the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

ImageJonatan Berggren Finds New NHL Home After Being Waived by Red Wings Jonatan Berggren Finds New NHL Home After Being Waived by Red Wings Former Detroit Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren officially has a new NHL home after being placed on waivers.

Last season, his last full campaign in the Red Wings' organization, he scored 12 goals while adding 12 assists in 75 games. 

The Red Wings chose to re-sign Berggren, who was a restricted free agent, over the summer to a one-year contract worth $1.825 million. 

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LIVE UPDATES: JETS VS. AVALANCHE

First Period

We are officially underway.

Avalanche score nearly 10 minutes into the game and it's Brent Burns. He snapped a shot from the point that deflected off the skate of a Jet defender and it's 1-0 Colorado.

Colorado would go on the penalty kill right after, though, as Gabe Landeskog was called for holding Josh Morrissey. The Avs would go on to kill the penalty and it was a complete team effort. Cale Makar forechecked like a beast and Brock Nelson made a key interception to disrupt the Jets' momentum. 

Martin Necas scored off a feed from Nathan MacKinnon on a 2-on-1 rush to give the Avalanche a 2-0 lead with just under five minutes left in the first. 

Wedgewood made a highlight-reel save in the closing stages of the first. The puck got underneath of him in the crease and he kicked his left leg out and knocked the puck out of danger.

Second Period

Josh Manson laid out Cole Perfetti with a hard hit early in the frame, but Jets forward Tanner Pearson took exception and challenged Manson to a fight. And it went poorly for him, as Manson dropped him with a series of blows.

Mark Scheifele was subsequently penalized for holding MacKinnon and the Avalanche were awarded with a power play. 

We're halfway through the period. The score hasn't changed. Winnipeg's Logan Stanley one-timed a shot from the point, but Scott Wedgewood made the stick save.

The Jets were subsequently penalized for too many men on the ice and Colorado got another chance on the man advantage. Landeskog also checked Winnipeg defenseman Dylan Samberg into the boards after the whistle. 

Martin Necas took a hit along the boards and just went down the tunnel. You hate to see that. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. 

Jets score shorthanded late in the period and it's Morgan Barron. Winnipeg cleared the puck and Barron won the foot race and snuck the backhand by Wedgewood. Barron has scored in back-to-back games against the Avalanche and has registered points in three out of his last four against Colorado. 

Third Period

Parker Kelly scores 1:58 into the final period to give Colorado a 3-1 lead. Manson fired the initial shot, and Kelly, who was screening Hellebuyck, deflected it by the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner. 

Devon Toews gets penalized for hooking Gabriel Vilardi. The Jets respond with a goal off the next draw. Haydn Fleury fires a slap shot that Scheifele redirects from the backdoor past Wedgewood to make it a 3-2 game. 

Near the halfway point of the period, Kelly tipped a shot from Samuel Girard by Hellebuyck, but it was immediately ruled no goal by the officials because Kelly played it with a high-stick. 

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NBA lays out injury reporting policies, reviewing other 'sports betting policies,' tanking rules

Having an NBA player and active head coach — Miami's Terry Rozier, Portland's Chauncey Billups, respectively — arrested and appearing in court on federal illegal gambling charges shook the NBA. Soon after, the league's executives and lawyers were reviewing old cases and looking ahead, trying to close loopholes that fueled the gambling charges in the first place.

All of which has led to a change in the league's injury-reporting rules, something the league informed teams by memo on Friday, which was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Teams currently only have to update their injury report every hour on game days. Both Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones have been charged in federal court with sharing inside information on injuries with bettors, who were able to profit by betting proposition unders.

Commissioner Adam Silver said this week that the league was thinking big-picture about how it can address loopholes such as the ones involving Rozier and Jones
.
"We're in the process, as I said right now, in working with our teams, thinking about anything else we can be doing, if there's any aspect of our system that needs to be shored up, and that includes working with the regulators on some, certain kinds of problematic betting," Silver said before the NBA Cup Final Tuesday night in Las Vegas. "For example, we know unders and prop bets are where we are most vulnerable. As I think you know, we don't control the bets that are placed on our own sport right now. We're left to lobby regulators or try to convince the legal sports betting companies that that's bad for them, as well."

The memo from the league told teams this (via The Athletic): "Core to the NBA's position is that sports leagues should have control over the types of bets offered on their games. Because leagues currently do not have such control, any changes will need to be pursued via negotiation with sports betting operations, requests to state gaming regulators, legislative action, or some combination of these avenues."
While the league might be able to influence its partners — such as DraftKings or FanDuel — to eliminate or significantly reduce the amount that can be wagered on prop bets, there are increasingly popular prediction markets that are much more like the Wild West and over which the league has no say. There is no easy answer here for the league, although better injury reporting would help.

All of this also has the league also undertaking "a renewed review of league policy changes concerning 'tanking' -- such as potential modifications to rules regarding Draft pick protections, revised Draft lottery rules, and other approaches," Charania reports. That news comes as we pass the 1/3 mark of the NBA season, and with some teams looking ahead to what is considered a talented, deep draft at the top, there will be a temptation to field nightly lineups with a lower chance of winning. The league already has a policy on resting star players — the Cleveland Cavaliers have been fined twice this season — but that is just part of the challenge.

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The Hockey Show: Panthers rolling, top local broadcasters and Brad Williams talks high-flying Ducks

Happy holidays from The Hockey Show.

This week was the last episode of the season, so co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were extra motivated to squeeze as much hockey goodness as they could into this week’s show.

Joining Roy and Dave was THS’ official Anaheim Ducks correspondent, comedian Brad Williams.

In addition to gushing over the solid season his Ducks are having, Brad also chatted about the challenging Western Conference, chirping his fellow comedians while on the road and the importance that Waffle House plays on any road trip.

Wins and fails of the week included Leon Draisaitl scoring his 1,000th point on former Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, a pair of defensive fails by the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, an interesting jersey choice by Tate McRae in Calgary and a goaltending matchup in South Florida featuring the sons of Hall of Fame netminders Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo.

The full episode and interview can be seen in the videos below:

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Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, Candace Parker headline list of Hall of Fame nominees

The list is stacked: Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson, Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Mike D'Antoni and Kelvin Sampson.

Those are just the first-time headliners on the list of eligible candidates for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

The list released on Friday includes a number of returning candidates eligible for the Hall, including Doc Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. The complete list released Friday will be narrowed down to Finalists selected on Feb. 9, with the 2026 class unveiled on April 4.

Jamal Crawford, a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is now an analyst for NBC Sports and its broadcasts of NBA games on the network and Peacock.

At first glance, Griffin, Parker and Delle Donne seem locks to be voted into the Hall of Fame.

Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick of the Clippers in 2009, went on to help change the franchise's reputation. He was the 2011 Rookie of the Year and went on to be a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player, most famously one of the engines of the Lob City Clippers era. He is currently an analyst with Amazon Prime on their NBA broadcasts.