Karl-Anthony Towns benched late: Thibodeau goes with Robinson

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points and added 7 rebounds, but he ended the night with a team-worst -20 rating in 28 minutes.

That number led coach Tom Thibodeau to bench him during the key stretch of the fourth quarter in favor of Mitchell Robinson. Robinson, known for his defense and hustle, played 29 minutes, grabbed 9 boards, and helped stabilize the Knicks defensively.

It’s a controversial decision given Towns’ star status and contract, but it highlights the need for better defense against Indiana’s high-powered offense.