New York Knicks President Leon Rose wanted to go big this offseason. Instead of building a roster considered one of the deepest in the league, Rose opted to go for the star power needed to compete with the Boston Celtics and other top contenders around the league.

Karl-Anthony Towns opted to look on the bright side as the New York Knicks eked out a narrow win over a lasting rival.

Towns has missed the Knicks' last two games after injuring his Thumb during a Jan. 13 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The star center played through discomfort, posting 26 points and 12 rebounds on 7-of-17 shooting from the field, 4-of-9 from three and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He declined to say whether he underwent X-rays following the loss.