Karl-Anthony Towns, the formidable Knicks forward, found himself sidelined following an unfortunate injury sustained during Monday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Attempting a dunk, Towns smacked his hand on the glass, resulting in noticeable swelling in his thumb. This injury has cast doubt on his participation in Friday's matchup against his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game was especially anticipated as Towns spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Wolves before joining the Knicks.
Despite being listed as questionable and a gametime decision, Towns' absence was confirmed when he sat out the Knicks' overtime victory in Philadelphia. His hand injury, identified as a bone chip and sprain in his shooting thumb, has kept him off the court for two consecutive games. During the game against the Pistons, Towns had his hand wrapped twice and continued to play, though he was visibly affected, often grabbing at his hand and struggling with his jumpshot.
The Knicks felt Towns' absence keenly, especially after his impressive performance earlier this season in Minneapolis against the Wolves. In that game, Towns delivered a stellar 32-point, 20-rebound, and six-assist performance, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, leading the Knicks to victory. This season, Towns has been a powerhouse for the Knicks, averaging 25.4 points and a league-best 13.9 rebounds per game since his transition from the Timberwolves.
Meanwhile, Julius Randle made a notable return to Madison Square Garden, marking his first appearance since being traded for Towns. The trade had brought significant changes to both teams' dynamics. Additionally, Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo also missed Friday’s game due to a toe injury, adding to the list of sidelined players.
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