Knicks Bench Karl-Anthony Towns Down Stretch of Loss

Coach Mike Brown opted for Mitchell Robinson over the All-Star center in crunch time against the Hornets.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 4:24am

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The New York Knicks were outmatched by the Charlotte Hornets, losing 114-103 on March 26, 2026. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns played just 22 minutes and was benched down the stretch, with coach Mike Brown opting for Mitchell Robinson instead. Brown cited the Knicks' struggles on the glass and defending the Hornets' pick-and-roll as reasons for the decision.

Why it matters

The Knicks' decision to bench their star player in a close game raises questions about load management and player utilization, especially as the NBA continues to grapple with issues around its 65-game eligibility rule for postseason awards.

The details

Towns finished with 13 points on 8 shot attempts, while Robinson played 26 minutes and had 6 rebounds. The Knicks were outrebounded 43-24 in the game. Brown said he felt Robinson gave the team a better chance to match the Hornets' physicality, though the Knicks were already down 20 points when Towns was subbed out.

  • The Knicks trailed by 21 points when Towns was subbed out with 8 minutes remaining in the game.
  • The Knicks cut the Hornets' lead to 10 points with 2 minutes left, but it was too late.

The players

Karl-Anthony Towns

An All-Star center for the New York Knicks who was benched down the stretch of the team's loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

Mike Brown

The head coach of the New York Knicks who opted to play Mitchell Robinson over Karl-Anthony Towns in crunch time.

Mitchell Robinson

The Knicks' center who played more minutes than Karl-Anthony Towns and helped the team make a late run, though it was not enough to overcome the large deficit.

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What they’re saying

“I just do my best to cheer for my teammates, and whenever my number is called, be the best version of myself for my team.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns

“I just thought when we had Mitch in there with certain guys, we were able to match their physicality. And we made a run. But we were down 20 at that time. And versus a good team on the road, that's tough to do.”

— Mike Brown, Head Coach, New York Knicks

What’s next

The Knicks will look to bounce back in their next game as they continue to navigate the challenges of load management and the NBA's 65-game eligibility rule.

The takeaway

This game highlights the difficult balance NBA teams must strike between resting star players to prevent injury and keeping them engaged to compete at the highest level. The Knicks' decision to bench their All-Star center raises questions about player utilization and the league's ongoing efforts to address load management concerns.