NY Knicks fans were left questioning everything after all went to hell against the Bulls on Saturday night. In one of the more ugly games already marred by defensive breakdowns, the attention turned in the 4th quarter to an alarming situation. Karl-Anthony Towns– a critical component- really took a hard fall while going for a layup. He went out of the game clutching his right hamstring. KAT walking to the locker room shocked many and brought in serious doubts about his availability for important games coming up.

The timing of the injury could not come at a worse time for the Knicks, who’re making it through an arduous stretch of games. It’s his first marathon back-to-back under the heavy-usage system of Tom Thibodeau. He showed the strain despite his breathtaking 44 points and 16 rebounds against the Bulls. NY now faces the nightmarish prospect of losing their big man, just as they find their mark in a very competitive Eastern Conference.

This game was the second night of a strenuous back-to-back for the Knicks. On Friday, they had a hot contest in Oklahoma City, in which Towns played 42 minutes. Less than 24 hours later, he played another 37 against the Bulls. Known for his heavy reliance on starters, head coach Tom Thibodeau kept KAT in, despite the Knicks trailing by as many as 17 points in the waning moments, a decision that is now under fire given Towns’ injury.

Towns was again the standout performer for the Knicks, with a monstrous stat line of 44 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists on 17-of-29 shooting last night. An extension of the great year he is having, averaging 24.7 points, 14.0 rebounds, and a career-best 54.8% shooting from the field. But the recent heavy load he has taken on, in addition to the hamstring strain, raises questions regarding overuse and durability, particularly with New York’s lack of depth at the center.

What will Thibodeau do now?

What’s next for Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks?

Now, Towns’ injury really throws a monkey wrench into their whole season’s expected outcome. While he nurses his hammy, they need to consider doing something right away to maintain competitiveness in the East. It does seem that coach TT will have to lean more into the likes of Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims to hold the fort in the paint.

Achiuwa has been scoring 5.4 points, grabbing 6.4 boards, and 1.1 assists, and we know he loves to run and energize everyone around him, while Sims has settled in with 1.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists a game- he has defensive instincts to claim at least some paint protection. Nevertheless, none of them sport Towns’ offensive firepower this season, leaving them in a damn tight spot.

Of course, it all depends on the bench depth of the Knicks. The team might also eye a possible short-term trade or free-agent move to build the frontcourt until Towns returns. Thibodeau also has to deal with over-reliance with heavy minutes on his starters, and for further prevention, moving towards a balanced rotation and workload management could be key to keeping them healthy and productive for the long haul.

The loss to the Bulls compounds the Knicks’ recent challenges, right after their once 14-point halftime lead against the Thunder swinging to a 24-point defeat… KAT’s hamstring issue could further derail the NY team’s efforts unless he can recover swiftly. The fans are now left to wonder: Can their star center bounce back in time, or is this the beginning of a tough stretch for the team?