The New York Knicks were not at full strength for their Opening Night victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As they prepare for their second game, a heated matchup against their division rival Boston Celtics, it remains unclear if Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, and Karl-Anthony Towns will play.
Ian Begley of SNY reported on the Knicks’ injury updates.
KAT and Josh Hart questionable, Mitch Robinson out
“Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury manager) is out and Josh Hart (lumbar spasms) is questionable for tomorrow’s game vs Boston, per NBA. Karl-Anthony Towns (quad strain) is questionable,” wrote Begley on X.
Towns, who powered through a Grade 2 hamstring strain against the Cavaliers, is questionable.
Injured or not, New York’s big man still put up a dominant performance with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve been banged up and haven’t really got a chance to practice or play in those last two preseason games. I don’t want to disappoint the fans, right? Dealing with a grade two quad strain, it’s not something that’s easy to deal with,” Towns said after the game.
Hart, who is still recovering from the back injury suffered in the Knicks’ preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers, was upgraded from doubtful earlier in the week. He may have a shot to make his season debut.
As for Robinson, the load management continues, and he will miss his second straight game to start the season.
The Knicks will likely continue their expanded rotation with Robinson out, as we saw second-year center Ariel Hukporti get the starting nod against Cleveland.
Reserve big man Trey Jemison III will likely have an expanded role in the wake of the longest tenured Knicks’ absence.
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