Towns earned 1.1 million votes, the third-highest amount in the Eastern Conference behind Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. His teammate, who plays in a big market like New York, noticed the difference.

Towns, who had 17 points and 22 rebounds in the loss, received roughly 1.1 million votes in the first returns of the fan All-Star ballot, the third-highest in the East behind just Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum. Last year with the Timberwolves, Towns only accumulated just 139,642 votes in the first round of fan voting.

PHILADELPHIA — The word became official about 90 minutes before game time, but was predictable nearly 48 hours earlier that Karl-Anthony Towns would be out of action Wednesday night as the Knicks took on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.