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Brooklyn Nets: Karl-Anthony Towns missing Tuesday’s game for valid reason

By Jerry Trotta

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 08: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the game at Target Center on November 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 08: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the game at Target Center on November 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Brooklyn Nets’ showdown against the Minnesota Timberwolves was rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon after Monday night’s originally scheduled tipoff was postponed in deference to the police shooting of unarmed black man Daunte Wright.

Emotions will obviously be running high for both teams following this unspeakable tragedy, and one player in particular who’s unfortunately reckoning with two tragedies has commendably opted against playing on Tuesday.

Per ESPN insider Malika Andrews, Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns has decided to spend the day with his family to mourn the one-year anniversary of his mother’s death.

When you consider how close Towns was to his mother and how much was taken from him as a result of COVID-19, which tragically claimed her life last April, we’re sending our thoughts and prayers to the two-time All-Star and his family.

Sending love to Karl-Anthony Towns, who will miss Tuesday’s Brooklyn Nets game.

The Timberwolves actually honored Jackie Cruz-Towns during Sunday’s game vs Chicago on Sunday by designating a seat for her at Target Center.

Despite being overcome with emotion, the former No. 1 overall pick performed up to the best of his ability in that matchup, pouring in 27 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists on 8-of-15 shooting, including knocking down all eight of his free throws in a thrilling 121-117 victory.

Anybody who knows what Towns endured last year — he revealed in a gutting statement before the start of the season that he lost seven family members, including his uncle and grandmother, to COVID-19 — knows that this campaign has been an incredible challenge.

In the statement, Towns revealed that he “hasn’t been in a good place” following his mother’s passing, adding that he was “the one looking for answers to try to keep my family well informed and make all the moves necessary to keep them alive.”

In another gut punch, Towns himself contracted the virus in January, which came while he was already recovering from a dislocated wrist that ultimately held him out of action for two months.

To say that the 25-year-old star has endured the worst over the last year would be a colossal understatement and we extend our sincerest condolences to him as he tries to push through this tragic one-year anniversary.

We were looking forward to seeing how the Nets’ defense game-planned to thwart Towns after they were pummeled by Andre Drummond on Saturday, but basketball is obviously irrelevant during times like this.

We think we speak for all Nets fans when we say we hope this off day for the Timberwolves cornerstone serves its purpose and that he’s back on the court for the team’s next game.