Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson to sit out Knicks’ opener vs. Cavs

• Tim BontempsOct 21, 2025, 06:10 PM ET

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  Tim Bontemps is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who covers the league and what’s impacting it on and off the court, including trade deadline intel, expansion and his MVP Straw Polls. You can find Tim alongside Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast.

The New York Knicks ruled out Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson on Tuesday for their season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In addition, All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns was downgraded to doubtful on Wednesday afternoon.

Hart, who is dealing with lumbar spasms, has been sidelined since playing seven minutes in the preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers in Abu Dhabi almost three weeks ago. Robinson, who is listed out due to left ankle injury management, has been out since playing in the first half of New York’s preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 9.

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“Still the same,” Knicks coach Mike Brown told reporters after practice Tuesday. “Neither one practiced today, but we’re going to keep monitoring them, and I’ll get with the medical staff and we’ll see what we’re going to do.”

Brown has repeatedly said that Robinson is not injured; the Knicks have said he has been out for “workload management” since the middle of last week.

“Really, it’s load management,” Brown said Tuesday. “Which means that, obviously, if we deemed it necessary, could he possibly go? Yeah, he could possibly go.

“He missed a lot of games last year so we want to be cautious going forward with him. That’s about the extent of it right there.”

The Cavaliers, who along with the Knicks are expected to challenge for the Eastern Conference title this season, will be without Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot). De’Andre Hunter was questionable with a right knee contusion.

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