Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks
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Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks took on a 114-103 loss against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, March 27.
Despite the fact that the Hornets are outside of the playoff picture and finding themselves Play-In bound, they’ve been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since before the All-Star break.
Still, Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks have major expectations this season. And their struggles on Thursday will certainly keep a bad taste in their mouth until they return to the court on Sunday to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
New York Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns during an NBA game.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks won 120-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Getty
As for Towns, he left Thursday’s game with a lot to think about. With the Knicks getting destroyed in the rebounding game, New York’s head coach opted to roll with Mitchell Robinson over the All-Star down the stretch.
It was an obvious benching for KAT, who reacted to the alarming move after the game.
Karl-Anthony Towns Reacts to Mike Brown’s Late-Game Decision
GettyTORONTO, CANADA – MARCH 3: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the second half of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 3, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
“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,” Towns told reporters, according to the New York Post.
According to Brown, Towns struggled to match Charlotte’s physicality. That’s been a common criticism for the star center throughout his tenure with the Knicks.
“I just thought when we had Mitch in there with certain guys, we were able to match their physicality,” Brown explained to reporters. “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.”
Unlike previous seasons, there is certainly no shame in losing to the Hornets these days.
Charlotte extended its winning streak to five on Thursday night, and they hold a 7-3 record over their last 10 games. The Hornets are only 2.0 games outside of the five-seed at this point.
But the Knicks’ expectations are too high to collect moral victories. The fact of the matter is, they lost convincingly and trotted out the backup center for more playing time than the $220.4 million center.
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks speaks with head coach Mike Brown
GettyKarl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks speaks with head coach Mike Brown
Towns appeared on the court for 22 minutes. During that time, he scored 13 points, while shooting 5-8 from the field and 2-2 from the charity stripe. Towns finished the game with just three rebounds and two assists. He was a minus-18,
As for Robinson, he came off the bench for 26 minutes. Offensively, he contributed four points, making both of his shots from the field. On the glass, Robinson came down with six rebounds, while producing one steal and one block. He was a plus-8–the only Knicks player to post a positive plus-minus on the night.
All in all, the Knicks were outrebounded 43-24. That was the game right there. Towns’ benching on Thursday probably won’t create a long-term issue going forward, but the physicality factor that Brown spoke of is worth keeping an eye on.