Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns plays through Grade 2 quad strain scoring 19 in season opener win

New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns played through a Grade 2 quadriceps strain during the team's season-opening 119-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite uncertainty about his availability leading up to the game. Towns, who was listed as doubtful and questionable multiple times before tip-off, scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 31 minutes, demonstrating a strong performance even while in pain. He emphasized his determination to not disappoint fans and received support from teammates and coaches, although it remains unclear how the injury might affect his participation in upcoming games. The Knicks also faced other injury challenges, missing key players Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson, which placed additional pressure on Towns and the rest of the squad. This victory marked a strong start to the season against a short-handed Cavaliers team, signaling resilience for the Knicks amid their injury struggles. Towns, who had an impressive previous season, aims to build on his success while managing his current injury.