Sources say Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns has a bone chip on his thumb

Sources say Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns has a bone chip on his thumb

PHILADELPHIA – New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns has a bone chip in his right thumb related to the sprain he suffered in Monday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons, sources confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday, although the same sources also said Towns is expected to survive the injury.

Towns injured his thumb in the first half of Monday’s game when he hit his shooting hand on the backboard during a drive. He played the rest of the game – scoring 26 points and 12 rebounds in 43 minutes – but reached for his hand several times throughout the game.

Afterward, Towns said the thumb injury “is what it is,” and after initially being listed as questionable to play against the reeling Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, he was ultimately ruled out before the game due to swelling in his thumb before the Game had to subside can return.

“We’ll see where he’s at (Thursday),” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Towns’ status during his pregame press conference.

Towns, acquired from the Knicks in a blockbuster trade on the eve of training camp in September, had a brilliant season for his hometown team, averaging 25.4 points and a league-leading 13.9 rebounds on 55% shooting from the field and 44.9% from 3-point range.

He finished third among Eastern Conference frontcourt players in each of the first two rounds of All-Star voting and is well on his way to entering the game – which would be a first for him after earning four All-Star selections. Star team reserve formed nine seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves to begin his career.

New York entered Wednesday’s game with a 26-15 record, pushing the Knicks to a 52-win season – which would rank among the 10 best records in franchise history. In overtime they defeated the 76ers 125-119.

Towns’ bone fragment was first reported by the New York Post.

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