Knicks notes: Byer, Sims, Robinson, first half review

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns suffered an injury to the thumb on his shooting hand during Monday’s loss to Detroit, but did not provide much information about it after the game, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Towns kept his hand in his pocket during a session with reporters after the game and replied, “It is what it is,” four times during the interview.

Towns hit his hand on the backboard in the first half and it seemed to bother him the rest of the game, Bondy notes. A couple of his subsequent shots missed badly, but he still played 43 minutes and finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds

His hand was hit again late in the third quarter, and he clutched it in pain as he ran into the crowd, according to Bondy. Byer declined to disclose whether X-rays had been taken and coach Tom Thibodeau only said “I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet,” on the question of the damage.

“They fired when they had to,” Towns said in explaining the loss. “We could sit here and talk about all the things we could have done. We just didn’t. It cost us in the end.”

There’s more from New York:

• The Knicks are discovering Jericho Sims‘ value on the trade market, sources tell Bondy in a separate history. The backup big man was recently replaced in the rotation by Ariel Hukportiand he missed Monday’s game because of back spasms. One of Bondy’s sources said there is some interest around the league for Sims, and the Knicks are seeking a second-round pick in return. That would be a downgrade from the offseason, where the team reportedly asked for two second-rounders. Sims will be a free agent this summer.
• The Sims’ availability coincides with the imminent return of Mitchell Robinsonwho is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Bondy adds. Thibodeau said Robinson is expected to begin training at some point this month, but he still hasn’t been cleared to sprint. “That’s the next step,” Thibodeau told reporters. “He’s doing some light shooting right now.”
• Towns has opened up the offense since arriving in an October trade with Minnesota, James L. Edwards of The Athletic states in a review of the first half of the season. The Knicks are 26-15 through their first 41 games, good for third in the East, as Edwards notes that shooting efficiency has been much better and they’ve been able to avoid serious injuries. On the downside, there have been too many defensive breakdowns, the bench isn’t producing enough to earn Thibodeau’s trust, and the team ranks just 24th in three-point attempts per game. match.