While Karl-Anthony Towns had a big back-to-back in Los Angeles he faced off against the Lakers and Clippers, there was a much bigger issue looming in his mind.

According to insider Alan Hahn, Towns is dealing with a knee issue that’s been bothering him for a while. “The knee is not good, but he’s fighting through it. He wants to play,” Hahn said. The ex- Minnesota Timberwolves have shown resilience with this injury; if you want a tough guy, it seems New York found their guy.

The Knicks’ first game without Jalen Brunson went as expected: hard-fought until the end, where New York missed its captain and All-Star clutch performer.