For the game, the Knicks could be without one of their best players, as Karl-Anthony Towns is on the injury report. The four-time NBA All-Star has missed each of the previous two games, so this would be his third straight out of action (if he doesn't play).

Towns has missed the Knicks' last two games after injuring his Thumb during a Jan. 13 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The star center played through discomfort, posting 26 points and 12 rebounds on 7-of-17 shooting from the field, 4-of-9 from three and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He declined to say whether he underwent X-rays following the loss.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart both participated in practice Sunday, but they are listed as questionable for the Knicks’ MLK Day matinee against the Hawks. Towns has missed the past two games due to a right thumb issue and Hart played through what looked like a painful left shoulder injury suffered in the third quarter of Friday’s home loss to the Timberwolves.

Dr. Jalen Brunson offered a positive diagnosis for his New York Knicks teammate. Knicks fans, already dealing with a few medical scares, were nearly dealt another nightmare on Friday night when Josh Hart was a victim of friendly fire: during third quarter action against the Minnesota Timberwolves,