The Knicks showed plenty of bark without their KAT.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who has carried the load during Jalen Brunson’s 13-game absence with an ankle injury, was a game-time scratch Tuesday before a 105-91 victory against the lowly 76ers at Madison Square Garden.
Towns averaged 34.5 minutes over the 13 games since he was last inactive during a loss to the Warriors on March 4.
He is dealing with left knee soreness and missed his eighth game of the season.
“We’ll take it day by day,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.
The Knicks still had five double-figure scorers, and Mitchell Robinson filled the void on the glass with a season-high 14 rebounds.
He made his second start in just his 14th game of the season.
Because the Knicks are back in action Wednesday against the Cavaliers, and Robinson hasn’t yet played in back-to-back games since coming off of offseason foot surgery, the Knicks could be in a pickle if Towns is out again.
The Knicks signed defensive-minded veteran forward P.J. Tucker to a two-year contract Tuesday, after his second 10-day contract expired.
Tucker has played in just one game, so what does he offer that was too valuable to lose?
The home crowd chanted for Tucker to enter the game late in the blowout against his former team, but he did not.
“Just veteran leadership,” Thibodeau said. “Come in and be a good voice for the team.”
Josh Hart’s coast-to-coast, buzzer-beating layup to end the third quarter pushed the Knicks’ lead to 80-70.
A 17-point halftime lead had been trimmed to five.
And it was a great example of why the do-it-all Hart is so valuable to the Knicks.
“His presence of mind,” Thibodeau said. “It was a timely play. It was a much-needed play for us.,” Thibodeau said. “It sort of gave us momentum going into the fourth. But that’s what Josh does. He makes plays like that to get the team inspired and get you going.”
New Jets quarterback Justin Fields was sitting courtside and tossed an autographed football into the stands after he was introduced to the crowd on the scoreboard and received an ovation.
New Giants quarterback Russell Wilson — Fields’ former Steelers teammate — received the same treatment at a game last week.
Asked if the Knicks might get back any of their injured point guards — Brunson, Deuce McBride or Cam Payne — during the next two road games, Thibodeau laughed.
“I’m always hopeful,” the not-so-optimistic by nature Thibodeau quipped. “I’m the eternal optimist.”
