Going into the New York Knicks versus Brooklyn Nets matchup on Friday, March 20, the Knicks have revealed some bad news on the injury front.
On Friday morning, the Knicks added their star center, Karl-Anthony Towns, to the injury report.
After getting some time off, the Knicks looked forward to potentially getting healthier for their battle against the undermanned Nets. They landed some positive news on Thursday, upgrading Jalen Brunson after his recent absence.
But Karl-Anthony Towns is a name to keep an eye on ahead of Friday’s tip-off.
Knicks Announce Unexpected Karl-Anthony Towns News vs Nets
GettyNew York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns has been downgraded for the team ahead of Friday’s action against the Brooklyn Nets.
Towns is officially considered questionable to play against the Nets.
The news is unexpected, considering Towns avoided setbacks over the past two games. Per the Knicks’ report, Towns will potentially miss the action due to “personal reasons.”
Recently, Towns missed a game against the Indiana Pacers. When the Knicks visited the Pacers on March 13, they picked up a 101-92 win, while missing their top front-court player.
Towns would return to the court for the team’s March 15 game against the Golden State Warriors. He appeared on the court for 30 minutes. The All-Star shot 7-12 from the field to produce 17 points. He also had 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
In the following game, the Knicks held a rematch against the Pacers on March 17 at Madison Square Garden. Towns checked in for nearly 32 minutes.
He drained 42.9% of his shots from the field to score 22 points. The veteran collected a double-double with 11 rebounds in the 136-110 Knicks win.
Another Strong Season For Towns
GettyKarl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and Team Knicks warms up before the Kia Shooting Stars during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California.
The Knicks have high expectations. So, if a player of Towns’ caliber is underperforming, the critics are loud. Towns experienced plenty of criticism at times throughout the year when he wasn’t playing up to par.
Overall, though, Towns is having another strong season for the Knicks.
In 65 games, the veteran is seeing the court for 31.2 minutes per game.
Towns is shooting 49.2% from the field and hitting on 36.6% of his threes (4.3 attempts per game). The Knicks’ star is averaging 20.0 points. He is also coming down with 11.8 rebounds per game and producing 2.9 assists per game.
For the third season in a row, Towns landed in the NBA All-Star game.
Where The Knicks Stand vs Brooklyn
GettyHead coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks speaks to the media at Knicks Training Facility on September 23, 2025 in Tarrytown, New York.
The Knicks are on a hot streak.
Heading into Brooklyn, the Knicks are on a four-game winning streak. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Knicks trail the top-seeded Detroit Pistons by 5.5 games.
Before Friday’s action, the Knicks are just 1.5 games behind the second-seeded Boston Celtics. While the Knicks are more than likely headed to the playoffs (a Play-In spot is already clinched), they still have to treat most games like a must-win in order to maintain favorable seeding.
The Nets are entering the matchup with a 17-52 record. They are on a five-game losing streak, winning just two out of their last 10.
Leading up to the Nets matchup, Towns is likely a game-time decision.
The two teams will tip at 7:30 PM ET on Friday.
Knicks Announce Unexpected Karl-Anthony Towns News vs Nets