Karl-Anthony Towns’ thumb injury not going away despite improved shooting

Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t recovered from his thumb injury, but he is adjusting to life with it. 

After hitting just 1-of-10 3-point shots in three games since returning from a bone chip and sprained right thumb, the Knicks big man was 2-for-4 from long range in Monday’s 143-106 win over Memphis at Madison Square Garden. 

“Man, it’s been a struggle,” Towns said. “I looked bad. I’ve been worried myself.” 

His confidence didn’t waver. 

“I’ve been good every day, regardless of what happens, having a shooter’s mindset, the next one’s in,” Towns said. “Just kept shooting the basketball and my teammates instill a bunch of confidence in me regardless of what’s happening. I just want to reward them for that kind of trust in me and I’m happy I hit some 3s to give ourselves more spacing on offense.” 

Asked if the improved results were a product of his thumb feeling better, Towns said, “It’s not that. [I’m] just getting more comfortable [with it].” 

He declined to elaborate on how the thumb was feeling, but he was effective Monday in scoring 24 points on 9-for-17 shooting overall. 

Towns suffered the injury against the Pistons on Jan. 13, and missed the next two games before returning against Atlanta on Jan. 20. 

In that game, still bothered by the injury, Towns missed all but one of his 3-point attempts and then went on to miss all four 3-pointers in the two games leading up to Monday’s showdown against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies. 

Towns took his first 3-pointer just over two minutes into the game. He drained it to give the Knicks a very early lead that was never threatened. 

Later in the first quarter, Towns attempted another 3-pointer and was clobbered by Memphis’ 7-foot-4 Zach Edey. He hit all three free throws. 

Towns was good from long range again early in the third quarter, which helped spark a win-sealing 18-2 run, as the Knicks ran the Grizzlies off the floor in what turned into a mismatch in the second half.