And yet, there was Towns, a five-time All-Star (including this season), subbing out with 9 minutes left and the Knicks trailing by nine to the Pacers. He did not return until the 2:25 mark with New York still trailing by nine. Reserve center Mitchell Robinson, a defensive stud who has offensive issues, was on the court in Towns’ place.

The Knicks dropped Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers with Karl-Anthony Towns benched for the crucial fourth quarter.

New York swung a huge deal with Minnesota before the 2024-25 season for the star power forward, who has added a dominant scoring presence alongside Jalen Brunson. In the playoffs, Towns' impact has been critical, helping the Knicks win a pair of road games in Boston.