The Knicks did not change their game plan on Sunday. Karl-Anthony Towns did. When Karl-Anthony Towns took the floor against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 8, the first thing that stood out was not his matchup or positioning. It was the goggles.

Not just any goggles. The same rounded protective pair that once became synonymous with Amar’e Stoudemire. The decision was not cosmetic. It was medical.

According to NBA insider Stefan Bondy, Towns required 16 stitches near his right eye after suffering a deep laceration earlier in the week. As a result, the Knicks pulled out a familiar piece of franchise history. “Karl-Anthony Towns got 16 stitches on his eye,” Bondy reported. “He’ll be wearing Amar’e Stoudemire goggles today. The Knicks still had a pair.” That made the accessory both practical and symbolic.

Towns suffered the injury during the Knicks’ 134–127 double overtime win over the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. Late in the first quarter, he absorbed a heavy collision while attacking the rim. Blood poured from the area above his right eye, forcing an immediate stoppage. Despite the severity, Towns stayed on the floor long enough to convert both free throws before heading to the locker room.

He returned midway through the second quarter with a bandage and finished the night with 24 points and 12 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting before fouling out in the first overtime. “I didn’t really know how bad it was,” Towns said afterward. “But I realized how much I was bleeding. It was pretty significant.”

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The stitches ruled him out of the following game against the Detroit Pistons, a contest New York lost 118–80.

Why the Goggles Matter to Knicks Fans

That absence only heightened the attention on his return. So did the choice of eyewear. Stoudemire wore the same style of goggles during his Knicks tenure from 2010 to 2015 after multiple eye injuries. What began as protection eventually became part of his identity. For many fans, the goggles are instantly recognizable.

Seeing Towns bring them back created an unexpected bridge between eras. It also underscored how serious the injury was. The goggles were not a throwback. They were insurance.

Towns entered the Celtics game averaging 19.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 46.5 percent from the field. New York needs that production, especially against elite opponents. The goggles suggest caution, not limitation. He was cleared to play. He simply chose not to risk further damage.

More importantly, the moment highlighted something else. Durability still dictates availability. If Towns stays on the floor, the Knicks stay competitive. If he does not, the margin disappears quickly. On Sunday, the goggles were a reminder of that reality.