INDIANAPOLIS — Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns will have surgery next week to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves announced Thursday evening.
The All-Star will miss at least four weeks, the team said. That would mean, at a minimum, Towns will be out for at least 13 more games — the majority of Minnesota’s remaining regular-season schedule.
He did not play in the Wolves’ win over Indiana on Thursday night. The team revealed after the game that an MRI scan, performed Wednesday, revealed a torn meniscus.
“Further updates will be provided as they become available,” the team said.
The ninth-year forward is averaging 22.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 42.3 percent from 3-point range.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker, top, fouls Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns as they compete for the ball in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game on Monday March 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Bruce Kluckhohn
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath (26) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Bruce Kluckhohn
Before Thursday, he had missed only one previous game due to injury this season, due to left knee soreness on Dec. 23, and showed no obvious signs of trouble during a win Monday against Portland — although he only played 21 minutes, his second-lowest. total this season.
Losing Towns will place a greater burden on All-Star guard Anthony Edwards – who tied his season high with 44 points as the Wolves beat the Pacers 113-111 Thursday evening, a match which Edwards sealed with incredible blocked shot just before the buzzer.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch thinks the Timberwolves can adjust to a stint without Towns.
“This is not a replacement person to fill Karl’s role,” he said. “What I like about our team is that we have a multitude of options. We can take many different paths depending on the games on a given night. We started different guys throughout the season anyway.
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