Knicks Announce Unfortunate Development Before Cavaliers Game

As Towns prepares for another season with the Knicks, his availability for Wednesday’s season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers has become uncertain. Towns missed the team’s final preseason game on Friday with a right quad strain.

However, Towns had still been participating in practice in a limited fashion, downplaying levels of concern. Towns was listed as questionable on the injury report, yet an unfortunate development broke hours before gametime. ESPN’s Sham Charania reported that New York had downgraded Towns to doubtful for Wednesday’s matchup.

“Development: New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns has been downgraded to doubtful to play in tonight's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote. The Knicks announced Towns’ status confirming the development on their official injury report submitted to the NBA moments later.

This is another devastating blow for New York if Towns is forced to miss an extended period of time. Both Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson have been ruled out for Wednesday’s game against Cleveland, both of which were expected to play substantial minutes.

Without Towns, the Knicks will be shorthanded against the Cavaliers, who held the first seed in the Eastern Conference last year. The absence of three key rotation players puts added pressure on Brunson to carry the offensive load. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges will both need to step up early, especially against a deep Cavaliers squad. New York’s depth will be tested from the very start of the season.