Mike Brown’s key sub decision pays dividends in Knicks’ comeback

· New York Post

Karl-Anthony Towns was on the bench when the Knicks changed the course of the game. 

He sat for most of the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 126-124 Christmas Day win over the Cavaliers on Thursday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, with coach Mike Brown rolling with Mitchell Robinson instead of him. 

Robinson subbed in for Towns with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter, with the Knicks trailing by 13.

Towns didn’t check back in for Robinson until 3:07 left, with the Knicks up by two. 

Mitchell Robinson passes the ball to New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek during the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“Everybody understands what our standard is — it’s about sacrifice,” Brown said. “KAT sat most of the fourth, but he was still into the game. You could tell, because he had the biggest offensive rebound during the game. He was into it mentally, understanding that, ‘Hey, Mitch is out there balling. I’m gonna sit here and cheer my teammates on. When my number is called, I’m gonna be ready to go.’ 

“It’s about connectivity. Our group is extremely, extremely connected. It’s about a competitive spirit.” 

When Towns reentered the game, his key putback layup gave the Knicks a four-point lead with 27.3 seconds left.

But he had largely been ineffective before that, finishing with just 11 points on 5-for-13 shooting from the field, missing both 3s he took. 

Robinson’s offensive rebounding ability, meanwhile, was crucial to the Knicks comeback.

He grabbed four in the fourth quarter and finished with eight in the game. Those four fourth-quarter offensive rebounds resulted in three 3-pointers from the Knicks (two from Tyler Kolek, one from Jalen Brunson) — an extra nine points on the scoreboard. 

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns drives down the court as Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley defends during the second quarter on Dec. 25, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“When the game’s getting tight like that and you need a little energy, you gotta go crash the glass and get offensive rebounds the best way you can,” Robinson said. “Help the team win.” 

Robinson’s ability to affect the offense without scoring is almost unparalleled across the league. He did not score Thursday, but the season-high 17-point comeback by the Knicks does not happen without him. 

“With all the guys, you see them from afar, you think certain things about them,” Brown said. “You think, ‘He’s this type of player, that type of player, he has this type of attitude and personality,’ and then when you get around them and you actually see how effective he is in certain areas, you think, ‘No way he should be that effective.’ It’s like, ‘Wow.’ You can’t teach that.”