Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Knicks Share Karl-Anthony Towns News Before Magic Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Dec 7, 2025 11:09 AM ET

The New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic return to Madison Square Garden for a Sunday matinee as both teams continue jockeying for position near the top of the Eastern Conference.

New York enters the game at 15–7 after a dominant win over the Utah Jazz on Friday, highlighted by Brunson’s 33 points. Orlando arrives at 14–9 following a home victory over the Miami Heat, with Wagner posting 32 points and Banchero returning from a 10-game absence due to a calf strain.

The matchup was expected to bring together Jalen Brunson, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Karl-Anthony Towns, following Banchero's return.

That, however, won't be the case following the news emerging around one hour before tip-off inside MSG, a day after New York added Towns to the injury report on Saturday.

Mike Brown says KAT is out today.
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) December 7, 2025

The Knicks provided their most significant update of the afternoon roughly one hour before tipoff, when The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III relayed coach Mike Brown’s decision.

“Mike Brown says KAT is out today,” Edwards reported on X.

Towns had been listed as questionable on Saturday because of left calf tightness after playing just 22 minutes against Utah.

The Knicks' center has averaged 22.5 points and 11.9 rebounds this season and had appeared in every contest to this point, Sunday's matchup marking his first absence of the season.

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32)© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Brown’s announcement will force New York to adjust its frontcourt rotation. Mitchell Robinson should take on a larger workload as the only bonafide big man in the Knicks' roster with proven NBA experience. Backup forward Guerschon Yabusele might also see an uptick in minutes off the bench.

Towns has dealt with multiple injuries in recent years, including a torn meniscus in March 2024 and a sprained thumb last January, along with multiple minor knee and quad issues in the last calendar year.

The Magic, meanwhile, listed only Moritz Wagner as out as he continues recovery from ACL surgery. Banchero is expected to play again, though his minutes may be monitored after logging just 20 in his return to the court on Friday.

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

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