The New York Knicks are facing elimination in the Eastern Conference Finals, and their fight to stay alive may be missing a crucial piece – Karl-Anthony Towns.
The star big man is currently listed as questionable for Game 5 with a knee contusion, putting even more pressure on a roster already stretched thin by injuries and the intensity of postseason play.
The pivotal game, set to return to Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, comes after the Indiana Pacers seized a commanding 3-1 series lead with a win on Tuesday.
Towns suffered the injury late in that contest after colliding knee-to-knee with Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith, an incident that briefly halted play as both players remained down.
Remarkably, Towns stayed in and finished the final minutes of the game, but the long-term impact remains uncertain.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau expressed hope that Towns’ ability to finish the game was a positive sign, though he emphasized that evaluations would continue up to tip-off.
Towns tallied an impressive 24 points and 12 rebounds in the loss, underscoring just how vital he is to New York’s postseason hopes.
The Knicks’ injury woes don’t end there. Backup center Isaiah Hartenstein is still sidelined with an Achilles issue, and guard Quentin Grimes remains day-to-day with lingering soreness.
On the Pacers’ side, Nesmith, whose defensive energy has been a thorn in New York’s side, appears once again on their injury list after tweaking his ankle, the same issue that limited him earlier in the series.
With their season hanging in the balance, the Knicks must rally not only against a tough opponent, but also against the physical toll of a grueling playoff run. Game 5 promises to be a battle, whether or not Towns is able to suit up.
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