The Boston Celtics may have walked away with a 107-103 victory over the New York Knicks. However, one of Friday night’s most memorable moments came after the final buzzer. Near midcourt at TD Garden, Mitchell Robinson reunited with his former New York teammates. He shared an extended, emotional embrace with Karl-Anthony Towns that highlighted their lasting bond.

Mitchell Robinson caught up with his former Knicks teammates after the Celtics grabbed their first win of the season 🔥

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/k8cuBpXKYF

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 24, 2026

Robinson spent his first eight NBA seasons with the Knicks before joining Boston in free agency this summer. That made Friday’s matchup his first against his former team in Celtics green. Their reunion followed a fiercely contested game in which Towns led New York with 22 points and 10 rebounds. It also fueled a late comeback that ultimately fell short. Robinson, meanwhile, battled foul trouble to finish with four points, four rebounds, and a block in 22 minutes. He also delivered a memorable fourth-quarter sequence, swatting Towns at the rim before finishing an alley-oop on the opposite end.

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The physical battle showcased their familiarity. However, the postgame interaction revealed the respect that remains between two frontcourt players who shared important years in New York. Sure, the Celtics celebrated a statement win behind Jayson Tatum’s 36-point performance. Still, Towns and Robinson exchanged smiles and words before parting ways. The Knicks dropped to 0-2 to begin their title defense, but their former center’s connection with the locker room clearly remains strong.

Towns has emerged as New York’s primary frontcourt scoring option following Robinson’s departure. He opened the 2026-27 season with 19 points and 12 rebounds against Philadelphia before recording 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists against Boston. Through two games, he is averaging 20.5 points and 11 rebounds. He has provided reliable scoring and floor spacing. However, foul trouble has limited his availability, making discipline a key priority as the Knicks try to recover from their difficult start.