Jan 21, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after geting called for an offensive foul in the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Knicks Dodge Major Karl-Anthony Towns Injury Scare

Originally posted on New York Knicks on SI
By Jayesh Pagar | Last updated Jan 25, 2026 9:08 AM ET

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ New York Knicks had one more tough fight in their pocket, and at the end of the game, their 112-109 win over the 76ers was recorded as their survival.

Even a close victory brought the team up to 27-18 on the season, but what attracted people's attention more was that there was a second-quarter moment when Karl-Anthony Towns went down hard on an and-one layup.

After landing and hitting the floor very hard, Towns cussed quite loudly and visibly, and after a short moment, he got back on his feet.

The incident became more concerning because he was already listed as questionable before the game due to thoracic back spasms.

Disclaimer: The following content contains graphic language:

"F*ck!…Oh f*ck me…Oh sh*t"

–– KAT hard fall on and-one pic.twitter.com/ylEkXbag5k
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 24, 2026

Towns' Night Was Not Pretty

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

While the Knicks got the win, Towns did not have the performance they needed from their massive investment. The star center put in a quiet effort, but his offensive output fell short of expectations.

Towns is averaging just 20.8 points this season, down from 24.4 last year with the Knicks.

It was another frustrating night that added to the growing questions around his fit in Mike Brown's system.

The Injury Crisis Is Real

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ Knicks simply cannot lose another important player. The team got nailed with this lesson. Josh Hart was sidelined for eight straight games due to a right ankle sprain he got on Christmas Day. The Knicks faced a big uphill battle in his absence, and by the time he returned, the team was already having problems with the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌chemistry.

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ latest scare happened when Jalen Brunson twisted his right ankle and had to leave the court early, which was a reminder of how reliant the offense is on him.

Even a brief absence necessitates the Knicks to alter their tempo, their way of creating shots, and their decision making in the final ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌moments.

Is KAT's Slump Heading Toward Trade Talk?

Inconsistent‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ performances by Towns have stirred talks about the trade deadline. There has been speculation that if the situation worsens, the front office might consider a drastic change.

Nevertheless, the Knicks have put such a scenario beyond doubt. The reports that the Knicks have not been in any trade discussions concerning Towns and are committed to keeping him until the deadline of Feb. 5.

However, the doubts about the performance of the team are still there. If Towns is off, it throws the whole Knicks' offense out of sync. The team will be relying on him to get it together soon if they are to go far in the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌playoffs.

This article first appeared on New York Knicks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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