Karl-Anthony Towns cleans the glass in Knicks' fifth straight win

Karl-Anthony Towns hasn't scored 20 points in five games. He's unhappy his team put him in trade rumors and his coach's offense doesn't suit him.

Rather than pout, Towns hit the boards. He pulled in 20 rebounds in Friday's 127-97 blowout of the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the New York Knicks' fifth straight win and Towns' second consecutive game with more than 20 rebounds.

Karl-Anthony Towns isn't letting trade rumors hurt his effort

There were hard feelings when the Knicks offered Towns to the Milwaukee Bucks in an offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. When Antetokounmpo seemingly became available this week, that summer news resurfaced, bringing back the bad feelings.

The trade rumors hit less than a year after Towns' previous team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, unexpectedly traded him to the Knicks after a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2024. Towns responded with an All-Star season, averaging 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds as the Knicks made their own run to the conference finals.

He's getting fewer touches under new Knicks head coach Mike Brown, with his scoring down to 20 points on three fewer attempts. Nonetheless. Towns has responded by leading the NBA in rebounds, with 20 Friday night, 22 Wednesday night and 11.8 per game this season.

While Towns was just 5-for-12 from the field, he committed only one foul and zero turnovers, while adding three assists. His team may be trying to move him, but Towns remains a team player.