The Knicks have their backs against the wall after a Game 4 loss in Indiana on Tuesday night, and they might be playing Game 5 with one of their stars less than 100 percent healthy.
Karl-Anthony Towns appeared to be playing through pain in the final minutes of Game 4 after colliding with Pacers big man Myles Turner. After the play, which was originally called a foul on Towns but reversed upon review, the former No. 1 pick stayed down on the court in serious discomfort.
Towns came up huge for New York in a Game 3 comeback win on the road, and the Knicks likely need their top offensive options firing on all cylinders if they want to win three straight and pull off the series comeback.
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Here’s what you need to know about Towns’ injury and his status going forward.
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Is Karl-Anthony Towns injured?
Towns’ knee appeared to take the brunt of a collision with Turner, and he was seen hobbling around the court over the final two minutes of Tuesday’s loss after remaining down for a couple of minutes.
While Towns was able to stay in the game, the pain didn’t subside right away. Even as the Pacers attempted free throws in the closing minute, Towns could be seen hunched over, holding his knee.
#InjuryAlert
Karl Anthony Towns took a hit at his knee and was seen limping after it.
He’s still playing through the pain while Knicks down 9 points with 1 minute in the 4th.#nyc #KnicksPacers #pacers #KAT #NBAPlayoffs #NBA pic.twitter.com/G10hDFkAL9— Global Gleanings (@GlobalGleanings) May 28, 2025
The injury, fortunately, wasn’t non-contact, but the force of Turner left Towns dealing with discomfort.
After the game, Towns deflected questions about his health. “I’m only thinking about this loss, I’m not thinking about that right now,” he told reporters when asked about his condition.
Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about his knee injury:
“I’m only thinking about the loss, I’m not thinking about that right now.” pic.twitter.com/dOTf0eWuvs
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 28, 2025
Game 5 will be played on a 48-hour turnaround Thursday night, so Towns doesn’t have much time to get himself back to full strength if he’s dealing with a notable injury.
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Is Karl-Anthony Towns playing in Game 5?
Towns’ return to Game 4 can be taken as a positive sign for his availability for Game 5, but Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau preferred to wait until the big man is examined by the team’s medical staff.
“We’ll see where he is after he gets evaluated,” Thibodeau told reporters when asked about Towns’ status, calling it a “good sign” that he was able to stay in the game.
With the season on the line for the Knicks and Towns willing to get right back on the court after the collision with Turner, it would be surprising if the injury kept him out of Game 5. New York will have all hands on deck at home as it attempts to extend the series and punch a ticket back to Indiana for a Game 6.
