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Chris Herring, ESPN Senior Writer
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks were without center Karl-Anthony Towns for their matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, marking the second consecutive game the star big man missed after suffering a bone chip and sprain in his shooting thumb earlier in the week.
Towns had been listed as questionable and a gametime decision against the Wolves, with whom he played his first nine seasons in the NBA. The teams played earlier in the season in Minneapolis, where Towns powered the Knicks to victory with a 32-point, 20-rebound, six-assist showing in which he shot 5-for-5 from deep.
Towns, who was injured when he smacked his hand on the glass Monday during a dunk attempt against the Pistons, had considerable swelling in the thumb. He got it wrapped twice during the game Monday and continued to play, but repeatedly grabbed at his hand and struggled with his jumpshot afterward. He then sat out the Knicks’ overtime victory in Philadelphia.
Towns is in the midst of a monster season with his hometown club, averaging 25.4 points and a league-best 13.9 rebounds since coming over from the Timberwolves in a trade on the eve of training camp.
Julius Randle, who starred for the Knicks over five seasons, played in his first game back at the Garden since being dealt for Towns. Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, who enjoyed big moments for New York last season and ranked third in three-point makes, also was forced to sit out Friday due to a toe injury.