Karl-Anthony Towns is playing through the pain.
The Knicks listed their All-Star center as probable for Tuesday’s back-to-back matchup against the Nets, despite a lingering right thumb sprain. Towns initially sustained the injury during a Jan. 13 loss to the Detroit Pistons when he jammed his thumb on the bottom of the backboard driving to the rim.
After missing three games to rehabilitate, Towns returned in Monday’s 119-110 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, sporting a bandaged thumb. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said the team will carefully monitor the injury but acknowledged playing through discomfort is part of the NBA grind.
“For the most part, every player has something,” Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff against Brooklyn. “If you’ve played in 40 games, you have something that you’re dealing with. That’s the reality of the league. So just keep pushing forward.”
Towns is a pivotal piece of the Knicks’ high-powered offense, one on pace to rank among the league’s best.
Acquired in a blockbuster preseason trade that sent Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick to Minnesota, Towns has unlocked new dimensions in New York’s offense with his ability to stretch the floor playing the stretch five at Madison Square Garden.
The numbers tell the story: Towns is averaging 25.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 54% from the field and an impressive 44% from three-point range across 39 games entering Tuesday night.
He ranks second in rebounding behind Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis and trails only Denver’s Nikola Jokic in three-point percentage among centers with at least three attempts per game.
Thibodeau Brushes Off Anunoby’s Shooting Slump
OG Anunoby’s perimeter shooting has dipped recently, but Thibodeau isn’t worried.
The Knicks’ versatile forward entered Tuesday’s game shooting 31.5% from three-point range in January, a slight drop from his 31.8% mark in December.
However, Thibodeau remains confident Anunoby will rediscover his rhythm, citing his career average of 37.2% as evidence.
“The game tells you [what to do]: You’ve gotta shoot the open ones,” Thibodeau said. “At the end of the year, I know where he’ll be because as long as they’re good shots, open, don’t hesitate. He’s a terrific shooter.”
Knicks Fans Take Over Barclays Center
When the Knicks visit Barclays Center, their fans turn the road game into a de facto home-court advantage.
Knicks supporters have flooded arenas across the country this season, from Charlotte’s Spectrum Center to Washington’s Capital One Arena and Miami’s Kaseya Center.
But the proximity to Madison Square Garden and the more affordable ticket prices in Brooklyn create a perfect storm for a sea of orange and blue in the stands.
“It’s unique for New York, and it’s not just here. It seems when we do play here obviously we have a lot of fans and we have a great fan base and they’re all over the country,” said Thibodeau. “So they support the team and we have great appreciation for that and we want to give them something that they can be proud of.”