Towns earned 1.1 million votes, the third-highest amount in the Eastern Conference behind Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. His teammate, who plays in a big market like New York, noticed the difference.

Being down their top two point guards was not enough to deter the Knicks against the hapless Jazz. All-Star Jalen Brunson and sixth man Miles McBride were out of the lineup with injuries, but the Knicks still cruised to their ninth consecutive win,

PHILADELPHIA — The word became official about 90 minutes before game time, but was predictable nearly 48 hours earlier that Karl-Anthony Towns would be out of action Wednesday night as the Knicks took on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.