Karl-Anthony Towns likely is the player the Knicks can least do without, especially with Mitchell Robinson still unable to practice.

There was no Villanova reunion. There was no anticipated spat with Rick Brunson to keep an eye on. Former fans didn’t have the chance to watch him play on the Garden floor during what has been a hot streak for the Delaware native.

Exactly a year prior to his long-awaited MSG return, the highest mark of Julius Randle’s tenure was taking shape.

The 21-19 Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled to get on the same page at times after making a monstrous offseason trade that brought in Julius Randle

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots at the basket as Boston Celtics forwards Xavier Tillman (26) and Jayson Tatum (0) defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP

The Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (thumb) is questionable for Friday's game against the Timberwolves, who will be without starter Donte DiVincenzo (toe).

Friday night marked Randle’s first game back at Madison Square Garden since the Knicks traded him and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the three-team blockbuster that brought center Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

Want to trade Julius Randle? Target the worst teams in the league who are in a race for Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.

It sucks,” Randle said. “I guess we’ll never know what could’ve been. I think the more unfortunate part is everything was a build, a constant build — I feel like all our teams overachieved year

There are nine games on the NBA slate tonight and Andrew Caley has you covered with his best NBA player props including Julius Randle in his return to New York.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks has a bone chip in his right thumb, but is expected to try to play through the injury.

Donte DiVincenzo thinks every shot is going ... But without three-time All-Star Julius Randle (season-ending shoulder surgery) and sixth man Bojan Bogdanovic (season-ending ankle surgery), Knicks ...