Karl-Anthony Towns misses the Knicks-Pistons duel

Karl-Anthony Towns misses the Knicks-Pistons duel

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson were both listed as questionable for Saturday night’s game against the Pistons, but only one of the Knicks’ top two scorers remained in the lineup.

Towns, who missed a game earlier this season with a right knee injury, was added late to the league’s official injury report earlier in the day and was unavailable because of what the Knicks call patellar tendinopathy of his left knee.

Brunson remained in the lineup despite suffering a bruised lower back and spent the final 14-plus minutes of the win over the Hornets at the Garden following a collision in the third quarter.


Karl Anthony cities
Karl-Anthony Towns sat out the Knicks’ game on Saturday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Towns, the four-time All-Star center acquired from the Timberwolves in September, is averaging a team-best 25.2 points, slightly higher than Brunson’s average of 25.1.

Towns’ 13.2 rebounds per game also ranked second in the league heading into Saturday’s game, behind only Denver’s three-time MVP Nikola Jokic (13.4).

Towns sat out the team’s win against the Nets on November 15, marking the only game missed by any of the Knicks’ starting lineup this season.

Jericho Sims started this game at center but played only 18 minutes, with rookie Ariel Hukporti contributing seven points and four blocked shots in 30 minutes off the bench, a career-best.


Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts while Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts with the fans after slamming the ball in the third quarter.
Jalen Brunson (left) was on the Knicks’ roster on Saturday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Sims started again Saturday night, but versatile big man Precious Achiuwa gave the Knicks another option off the bench after making his season debut Thursday against the Hornets after missing the first 21 games with a hamstring injury.

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