Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns was ruled out of Friday's matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to a right elbow impingement, per ESPN NBA. Towns, who averages 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, participated in pregame warmups but exited after grabbing his elbow during pregame shootaround. The injury forces Mitchell Robinson into the starting five, altering New York's frontcourt dynamics.

The Bulls' matchup against the Knicks remains pivotal as both teams jostle for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. Towns' absence raises questions about the Knicks' offensive efficiency, as his scoring and rebounding have anchored their playoff push. The team will hope for a swift recovery ahead of critical late-season games.