Karl Anthony Towns was dealing with something from the court as they missed the Knicks' 114-102 defeat to the Warriors on Tuesday.
The 7-foot big man who hasn't dealt with serious injuries has missed his sixth game for his sixth Knicks this season for personal reasons, Knicks manager Tom Thibodeau said.
Town girlfriend Jordyn Woods shared a message about cancer later that night.
“F-K cancer” Woods wrote x.
The 27-year-old model has not further elaborated, and it is unclear whether her message is related to the town's absence.
Woods, who lost his father to cancer in 2017, received support from Knicks followers, including actor Ben Stiller, a stubborn New York fan.
“I agree,” Stiller wrote, adding orange and blue heart emojis.
The Knicks went 3-3 in the game town. I missed it in my first campaign with New York.
The town averages 24.5 points and 13.4 rebounds this season.
Thibodeau refused to answer whether the town would be available when the Knicks began their five-game West Coast trip with the Lakers on Thursday.
“I can't answer that,” Thibodeau said before the Knicks' loss in the yard. “I can't. I don't know, so I obviously want him back when he's ready to come back. But he needs a bit more time now.”
The Knicks probably leaned over Mitchell Robinson. Mitchell Robinson was limited to several minutes against the warrior as he eased from an ankle injury he suffered in May.
Robinson finished with seven points and five rebounds in 15 minutes.
The Towns finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds in the Knicks' 116-112 overtime victory over the Heat on Sunday.
The Knicks came in third in the Eastern Conference with the 40-20 mark.
