Karl-Anthony Towns delivered one of the most electrifying performances in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, putting the New York Knicks on his back to stave off elimination against the Indiana Pacers.

For whatever reason, Thibodeau benched Towns for six minutes and 35 seconds of the fourth quarter — beginning at the nine-minute mark — while the Knicks fell short of a comeback attempt in Friday’s 114-109 loss at Madison Square Garden.