DETROIT — Karl-Anthony’s breakthrough performance came with a price.
The Knicks center suffered a sprained left wrist and is listed as questionable for Friday night’s game against the Pistons, the team announced.
On Wednesday in Miami, Towns dropped 44 points with 13 boards as the Knicks handled the Heat.
It’s unclear when Towns hurt his wrist — which is on his non-shooting hand — but there was no indication in the postgame locker room of an injury.
“Just wanted to do whatever I can to help us win,” Towns said in Miami. “My teammates out there on the court put the trust in me with the basketball and the coaching staff, amazing game plan by them. I just wanted to repay their trust.”
The Knicks’ frontcourt is already depleted with Precious Achiuwa set to miss his fifth straight game to start the season because of a hamstring strain.
Mitchell Robinson is out indefinitely while recovering from ankle surgery.
If Towns is unavailable, the only other centers on the roster are Jericho Sims and Ariel Hukporti.
The good news is that Towns is listed as questionable rather than out, indicating the injury isn’t severe.
Josh Hart was also listed as questionable in the previous two games and played in both. He wasn’t on the injury report for Friday’s game.
Towns drew praise from coach Tom Thibodeau following his Miami performance.
“I love his approach because he’s not forcing anything,” the coach said. “I want him to be assertive and everything, but I want him to let the game come to him. He’s very confident in his ability, he’s a very gifted scorer, as you saw tonight. But if you look at his whole career, that’s what he’s done. And he can hurt you a lot of different ways. He doesn’t hesitate. He’s a lot stronger than he was five years ago. He can finish through contact. But he can put it on the floor, shoot the 3. Catch-and-shoot with him. Everything. He has the skills of a guard in a center’s body.”
