The Lakers take on the Knicks in a game between two teams marching up the series. Will the Knicks have their starting center available?

Despite the sensitive nature of Towns' absence, Lakers fans accused him of continuing a trend pointed out by Luka Doncic on Sunday night — opposing stars making sure to play against LA's historic franchise. "Bro was resting for the Lakers," a fan on X claimed about Towns.

The Knicks’ first game without Jalen Brunson went as expected: hard-fought until the end, where New York missed its captain and All-Star clutch performer.