The New York Knicks are off to a strong start in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 121-117 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. However, New York was hit with a brutal Mitchell Robinson injury update ahead of Game 2 that could affect the series outcome.

Knicks receive untimely Mitchell Robinson injury update

Mitchell Robinson sustained a stress injury to his left ankle and will be re-evaluated in 6 to 8 weeks, per Shams Charania. Hopefully, he will have an efficient recovery process. Robinson's absence hurts New York. He has been an anchor for the Knicks throughout the regular season and playoffs.

The 26-year-old center was less than thrilled about the devastating injury news, given his loaded social media post:

“This is not over! I WILL SEEK REVENGE,” Robinson posted on X, per Fred Katz.

Robinson is devastated about the update, but with a solid rehab effort, he can eventually return healthy.

Robinson suffered an ankle ailment during the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers, which was aggravated by a hard foul from Joel Embiid. He missed Games 4 and 5 but later returned to help close out the series in Game 6. Robinson played in the Knicks' four-point win over the Pacers on Monday night as well, amassing two points and two rebounds in 12 minutes.

It will be tough to fill Robinson's void, but the Knicks have the personnel to do so.

Josh Hart has been stellar for New York throughout the playoffs. He has done nearly everything on the court to help his team win. Most notably, Hart supplied the Knicks with 24 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in Monday night's win over Indiana.

New York can rely on Hart to continue crashing the boards and playing hounding defense to help out. One of the most obvious players who will have to pick up the slack in Robinson's absence is Isaiah Hartenstein.

Hartenstein started for Robinson in Games 4, 5, and 6 against the 76ers. In Game 6, he finished with a promising 14 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. The Knicks will need him to continue being a force amid their challenging second-round matchup.

New York needs a stellar team effort to continue their momentum against the Pacers

If there is one thing New York will rely on to win outside of their play on the floor, it is team chemistry. After the regular season, Jalen Brunson revealed that New York was one accord, sharing a selfless, winning mindset.

“It's a mixture of the chemistry we have, a mixture of the coaches and how they want us to have a mentality,” Brunson said. “Guys just have that mindset. It's how most of us grew up as basketball players.”

Similarly, Donte DiVincenzo emphasized that New York's locker room has supreme synergy.

“I think we genuinely like each other. It's not BS, it's not for the cameras — I think everybody in this locker room likes each other and everybody in this locker room wants everybody else to succeed. That's the rarity here,” DiVincenzo said.

“It's not ‘I'm trying to get mine, I hope you succeed as well.' It's ‘I hope you succeed, and you're gonna help me succeed at the same time.' And I think that's the overall mindset in this locker room and it's helped us get 50 wins this year,” he added.

The Knicks need to use their chemistry to keep putting pressure on the Pacers amid Mitchell Robinson's untimely absence.