Karl-Anthony Towns Upgraded to Questionable for Knicks’ Opener Against Cavaliers
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The New York Knicks listed center Karl-Anthony Towns as questionable for Wednesday night’s regular-season opener in Cleveland, reversing an earlier downgrade to doubtful on the NBA’s official injury report.
The three-time All-NBA selection is managing a right quadriceps strain. He missed New York’s final preseason game last Friday as a precaution.
Key contributions last season
Towns, 29, earned his fifth All-Star berth and averaged 24.4 points, a career-best 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.0 steal in 35 minutes across 72 games in 2024-25. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in December after leading the Knicks to a 12-2 record while posting 23.2 points, 14.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest.
Contract status
Acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in October 2024, Towns is entering the second season of a four-year, $220 million deal that carries a player option for 2027-28.
Hart, Robinson ruled out
While Towns’ outlook improved, head coach Mike Brown confirmed that Josh Hart (lumbar spasms) and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) will not play against the Cavaliers.
Hart, 30, hurt his back during a preseason matchup with Philadelphia and has not appeared since. “We have to be careful with it,” Brown said, noting the team will follow the medical staff’s plan.
Robinson, 27, has been sidelined since logging first-half minutes in an Oct. 9 preseason game versus Minnesota. Brown characterized the decision as load management: “He missed a lot of games last year, so we want to be cautious.”
Possible rotation changes
The absences of Hart and Robinson could open minutes for forward Guerschon Yabusele, who joined New York on a two-year, $12 million contract after a breakout season with the 76ers.
Hart averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals while starting all 77 games last season. Robinson appeared in 17 games, contributing 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 17.1 minutes.
The Knicks and Cavaliers tip off Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Source: Basketball Insiders
