New York knew that it would likely be missing OG Anunoby for the Boston Celtics' highly-anticipated visit (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) and that came to pass: in the lead-up to the contest, Anunoby was ruled to be out for the third straight game due to a foot sprain. Precious Achiuwa will start in Anunoby's place.

Tom Thibodeau used OG Anunoby’s absence from the lineup to take a look at Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward.

"It's the trust they have in me to get them the ball when they cut," Karl-Anthony Towns said, "and that's been garnered in the building since Day 1.