Sitting third in the Eastern Conference with a solid record, the New York Knicks will fancy themselves as contenders this season. That said, they will need their players firing on all cylinders as the league heats up. So an injury to a key player is the last thing they need. If you’re a New York Knicks fan, you probably won’t like what we’ll tell you next about Karl-Anthony Towns.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is confirmed to be OUT of the squad for the game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The reason cited for his absence is a sprained thumb. Towns, initially reported as questionable, was changed to doubtful before the latest update.

KAT appeared to have injured his thumb in the first half of the game against the Detroit Pistons. But he played through the injury, which in turn ended with the New York side losing the game, as he dropped 26 points and 12 rebounds. This injury to their new recruit will greatly hurt the Knicks’ chances against the 76ers.

Tests on his thumb revealed a bone chip along with the sprain, as reported by The Post. However, it seems surgery will not be necessary and Towns will be able to play with the chip upon his return. The Knicks now consider his availability day to day, though the swelling from his sprain rules him out of tonight’s game at the minimum. Although rather concerningly, Karl-Anthony Towns is not the only absentee for the Knicks. So let’s delve into the injury report submitted by both teams ahead of their clash.

New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers- Detailed injury report

The Knicks named a few players on their injury report submitted ahead of the Sixers game. Apart from KAT, they will miss Pacome Dadiet, as he has G League obligations to fulfill. Kevin McCullar Jr. continues working through his knee setback. Additionally, Mitchell Robinson is also OUT of the game against Philly as he recovers from his ankle surgery. Robinson is set to make his season debut soon, although reports suggest he will be back early next month.

Though luck does favor the Knicks slightly ahead of the Philly game. The pair of Jalen Brunson and Jericho Sims will be available for them. They were each listed as PROBABLE and QUESTIONABLE respectively in an injury report submitted earlier in the day.

On the other hand, the 76ers submitted an injury report that will have their fans sweating bullets. Former MVP Joel Embiid is OUT of the game against New York with a sprained left foot. His status is considered day-to-day. Andre Drummond is also OUT of the game with a sprain in his left toe.

Furthermore, the likes of Jared McCain, Kyle Lowry, KJ Martin, and Caleb Martin are also OUT of the Sixers’ lineup. The trio of McCain, Lowry, and KJ have struggled with injuries recently, missing crucial games earlier this month. Moreover, the injury to Caleb Martin further hampers the Sixers’ squad depth. Something that wasn’t all that great heading into the Knicks game.

The Knicks will fancy their chances against Philadelphia in their upcoming game. They have a 7-3 record in their last 10 games against the 76ers. With a better injury record and the likes of Brunson and Sims being back, the chips have fallen in their favor.

However, as the game commences live, only time will tell who the victor is in this heated clash between East Coast rivals!