Two injury questions heading into the NBA Cup game Friday.

The Towns wrist situation remains unresolved. He left Wednesday's game against Chicago in the first quarter after appearing to hurt it, and as of Thursday there's still no timetable. That's the same place we were yesterday — no update, which is itself an update of sorts. The Knicks play Philadelphia on Friday in an NBA Cup game, and whether their franchise center is available is the obvious question hanging over the whole thing.

Alvarado, meanwhile, will miss his fourth straight game. The right ankle sprain has kept the reserve guard out since at least Sunday against the Magic, and Friday is another no. Two players unavailable, one with an uncertain status and one confirmed out — not a crisis, but not nothing either, especially against the Sixers.

Worth noting: the Knicks are defending champions. They raised the banner ten days ago. A short-handed NBA Cup game in late October is not the story. But the Towns wrist is worth watching closely, and if it lingers past this week, it becomes one.