Karl-Anthony Towns Making Knicks Debut?

The New York Knicks' major players will be in action in the 2024 preseason opener.

Jan 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) sets a franchise record with 62 points against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images / Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks are letting their new Wolf roam in their early fall opener.

The starting lineup for Sunday's preseason game between the Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves (5 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV) features Karl-Anthony Towns in the starting lineup, allowing the newest New Yorker to make his unofficial Manhattan debut. Fellow metropolitan newcomer Mikal Bridges will join him in the opening five with incumbents OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart.

It's been a quick turnaround for Towns, who has been stationed in Manhattan for less than a week after he was traded from Minnesota. The Knicks need to replace two in their opening five, now that Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle were sent to the Midwest in the Towns deal.

Towns appeared in three preseason games last season, his last with the Timberwolves, averaging 17 points and four rebounds in that span. That included a 17-point, five-rebound, three-assist output in an exhibition victory over the Knicks at his future home of Madison Square Garden, where New York will return to face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Towns did mange to join the Knicks at The Citadel in Charleston for a few practices before camp broke. With New York set to contend for the Eastern Conference lead ... and more ... this season, it'll be important for the team to use this preseason to develop as much chemistry as they can before embark on a quest for No. 1. The Knicks earned 50 wins and the runner-up spot on the Eastern bracket last year but still finished 14 games behind eventual champion Boston.

Charlotte is set to counter with LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green, Brandon Miller, and Nick Richards in its own exhibition debut. Mitchell Robinson and rookie Kevin McCullar are the Knicks' inactives while Charlotte is without Cody Martin, Nick Smith, Grant Williams, and Mark Williams.

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