It’s been something of a dream season for the Timberwolves, who sit tied atop the West through 62 games, but the dream hit a potentially massive roadblock Thursday.
Karl-Anthony Towns is poised to miss time with a knee injury, dealing a blow to a Minnesota team that has benefited from a largely healthy core this season. Only one Timberwolves starter has missed more than five games, and all have played more than 50 games to this point.
Towns has been part of a frontcourt that has gelled nicely after a rocky 2022-23 season. Rudy Gobert has settled in and re-emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year favorite, and Towns is shooting a career-high 42.3 percent from 3-point range.
The dynamic duo is precisely what team president Tim Connelly envisioned when he sent a haul to the Jazz for Gobert, but Towns’ injury threatens to at least temporarily derail Minnesota’s momentum.
Here’s the latest on Towns’ injury and how long he could be forced to sit out.
MORE: Anthony Edwards explains reason for late arrival vs. Trail Blazers
What is Karl-Anthony Towns’ injury?
Towns was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported.
The 28-year-old already was ruled out for the Timberwolves’ Thursday night game against the Pacers before the news broke, though he wasn’t initially known to be dealing with a serious injury.
While it’s been a strong season for the ninth-year big man, Towns scored under 20 points in each of his last four games and shot below his season average in each of his last six. It’s certainly possible the injury has been affecting his play, raising a red flag for Minnesota.
How long is Karl-Anthony Towns out?
Towns is set to undergo surgery to repair the torn meniscus, which will keep him sidelined for at least a month, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday night. He is expected to return “early in the Western Conference playoffs,” per Wojnarowski.
Timelines for meniscus tears can vary depending on what type of treatment a player receives, which includes multiple types of surgeries. While 76ers star Joel Embiid has been out for more than a month with a meniscus tear, Towns won’t necessarily be on a similar timeline.
The Timberwolves are approaching a tough stretch of games, starting with a six-game road trip that includes four consecutive matchups against teams with a winning record. Minnesota also faces the defending champion Nuggets twice before the end of March.
Here are the next six games on Minnesota’s schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| March 7 | at Pacers | 7 p.m. | — |
| March 8 | at Cavaliers | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| March 10 | at Lakers | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| March 12 | at Clippers | 10 p.m. | TNT |
| March 16 | at Jazz | 9:30 p.m. | — |
| March 18 | at Jazz | 9 p.m. | — |
Karl-Anthony Towns stats 2023-24
- 22.1 points per game
- 8.4 rebounds per game
- 3.0 assists per game
- 0.7 steals per game
- 0.7 blocks per game
- 2.8 turnovers per game
- 50.6 percent field goal shooting
- 42.3 percent 3-point shooting
- 87.4 percent free throw shooting
