Karl-Anthony Towns Loses His Cool After Getting Benched in Win Over Trail Blazers [VIDEO]

January 12, 2026, 1:20am EST 5 • By Shabiha Akter

Late in the game, Karl-Anthony Towns was sent to the bench during crunch time, which clearly didn’t sit well with him. Cameras caught KAT venting his frustration by angrily tossing an object.

Since lifting the NBA Cup in December, the New York Knicks have experienced a roller-coaster stretch. Over their last ten outings, they split the results at 5–5. Their most recent victory came Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, but the game also featured a tense moment involving Karl-Anthony Towns.

Watch Live & On-Demand in the NBA App

Late in the game, Towns was sent to the bench during crunch time, which clearly didn’t sit well with him. Cameras caught KAT venting his frustration by angrily tossing an object.

Despite the emotional scene, New York held firm and secured a 123–114 win over Portland. Towns still delivered a strong all-around performance. He finished with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, along with three assists and two blocks, while shooting an efficient 9-for-13 from the field.

There was also a brief scare earlier in the game when Karl-Anthony Towns headed to the locker room during the second quarter. It sparked concern about a potential injury. Thankfully for the Knicks, the issue was minor, as he later returned to the floor and rejoined his teammates.

Jeff Teague Suggests Major Karl-Anthony Towns Trade Before Deadline

Karl-Anthony Towns (Image Credits: Imagn)
During a recent episode of the “Club 520 Podcast,” former NBA guard Jeff Teague floated hypothetical trade scenarios for the Knicks, including the possibility of moving Karl-Anthony Towns ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

“I’d call the Heat and see if they want to swap KAT for Bam. Clearly, you don’t want a scoring big, because y’all don’t even give him the ball. So you might as well bring in a defensive-minded big who can make plays,” Teague said.

The Knicks landed Towns in a blockbuster offseason deal in 2024. Over the past two seasons, he has emerged as a cornerstone of the franchise alongside Jalen Brunson. Given his importance to the team’s core, it appears highly unlikely that New York would entertain the idea of moving on from Karl-Anthony Towns anytime soon.