Knicks Announce Karl Anthony-Towns Update Before Celtics Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jackson Stone | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 7:28 PM ET

On Wednesday evening, the New York Knicks moved to 1-0 on the 2025-26 NBA season with a 119-111 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night. It was a balanced scoring attack from the Knicks, who were led by 24 points from OG Anunoby and 23 from point guard Jalen Brunson.

Prior to the game, there was some question as to whether or not big man Karl-Anthony Towns would be available, as he was dealing with a right quad strain. Towns ended up playing through the injury, scoring 19 points to go along with 11 rebounds in the win.

Up next for the Knicks is another home game against the Boston Celtics on Friday, and on Thursday afternoon, the team released its latest injury report, with Towns making another appearance.

May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) walks off the court after the game against the Detroit Pistons during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Towns was officially listed as questionable for the Celtics game with the right quad strain. Meanwhile, Josh Hart (lower back) and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) will both be out of the lineup for the second straight game. Additionally, OG Anunoby was listed as probable with a left ankle sprain.

The Celtics will likely have revenge on their minds Friday evening when they take on a Knicks team that shockingly eliminated them from the postseason a year ago. Although the Jayson Tatum Achilles injury captured the majority of the headlines in that series, the Knicks were already on the verge of going up 3-1 by the time that happened, a result that very few saw coming.

This year, the Knicks are hoping to take advantage of an Eastern Conference that appears to be wide open, thanks to injuries to both Tatum and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who helped eliminate New York in last year's Eastern Conference Finals. New York has put together a deep team around Brunson and made some interesting additions in free agency this year, including microwave scorer Jordan Clarkson. They showcased that depth in the win over Cleveland, having five players score at least 15 points.

The Celtics and Knicks are slated to tip off on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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