The New York Knicks took down the Sacramento Kings 103-87 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to improve to 28-18 on the season. This was actually an ugly, close game for much of the night, but the Knicks ended up winning comfortably as they closed it out on a 21-9 run.
Interestingly, Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t on the court for that run, as Knicks head coach Mike Brown benched him for the final 6:51 of the game. It’s not the first time that Brown has done so this season, but Towns made it clear postgame that he had no issues with his head coach’s decision.
“[Brown] saw what he saw, we’ve got to win,” Towns said, via SNY Knicks. “That’s the most important thing… That’s all I care about, New York care about, this team care about – is wins.”
That’s the right mindset. Considering the Knicks went on that big run without Towns, can one question Brown’s assessment? It was the right decision, even with the five-time All-Star impressing on offense at the start of the fourth.
Towns scored six points in the first four minutes of the period, but the Knicks weren’t able to pull away from the Kings. A change was needed, and Brown made the right one.
Towns finished the night with 17 points (5-15 FG), 11 rebounds, and four assists in 27 minutes. This was the third-straight game in which he hadn’t reached the 30-minute mark. Towns played 20 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 21 and then 16 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Unlike against the Kings, though, there were other factors in play.
The Knicks were blowing out the Nets in historic fashion, and that game was over at halftime. There was no need for anyone to play big minutes on a night where you won 120-66.
As for the 76ers game, Towns was in foul trouble in that one. He eventually fouled out midway through the fourth and would have played more minutes otherwise.
In all, Towns’ second season with the Knicks sure hasn’t gone according to plan so far. The 30-year-old is averaging 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 36.5% from three. His struggles have led to his future with the franchise being in doubt.
The Knicks appear to be considering a Towns trade, and he is someone to keep an eye on as we get closer to that Feb. 5 deadline. If they don’t ship him out, there will be another big decision to make in the summer.
Towns will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension in the offseason. He sure isn’t playing like someone worth that kind of contract. You’d imagine the Knicks would only agree to an extension if Towns takes a significant pay cut. How interested would he be in that? Time will tell.
Mike Brown On Benching Karl-Anthony Towns
Brown was asked postgame about Towns’ minutes being down over these last three games, and he explained why he benched the big man against the Kings.
“At the end of the game, we had a group out on the floor that was playing well,” Brown said, via SNY Knicks. “It’s a tight ballgame, and so I just rode that group to the end of the game, which I’ve done before… We needed to get the win.”
Brown had previously benched Towns down the stretch in a 123-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 11. He made it clear back then as well that he will stick with a group if it is doing well. As long as you win, there really isn’t anything anyone can complain about.
The Knicks have now won three in a row and take on the Toronto Raptors next at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET.
