9:11pm: Towns will undergo surgery to repair his torn left meniscus and will be reevaluated in a month, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, Towns is expected to make his return early in the Western Conference playoffs.
8:18am: Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee and is out indefinitely, The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweets. Towns has reached out to numerous medical professions regarding the injury over the last 24 hours, Charania adds (Twitter link).
Towns had been listed as out by the team’s PR department (Twitter link) for the team’s Wednesday road game against Indiana tonight due to left knee soreness. The injury has proved to be much more serious.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski paints a somewhat different picture regarding the injury. He indicates that it’s unclear how much, if any, time Towns will be required to miss, as the Timberwolves star forward and the team continue to gather information regarding the extent of the damage (Twitter link).
It’s a stunning blow for a team competing for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves are currently tied with the Thunder at 43-19 with 20 regular season games remaining.
Towns, whose career has been marred by long-term injuries in recent seasons, is averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 60 games this season.
A Grade 3 calf strain limited him to 29 regular season games last season. However, Towns bounced back strongly this season, sitting out only two games to this point.
His production had dipped the past four games, as he failed to reach the 20-point mark in any of those contests. He played only 21 minutes against Portland on Monday, the second game of a back-to-back, and posted only 14 points and four rebounds.
With the trade deadline having passed a month ago, the Timberwolves have limited options to replace him. Backup big Naz Reid could slot into the starting lineup or coach Chris Finch could go with versatile forward Kyle Anderson. The team also signed T.J. Warren to a 10-day contract on Wednesday.
FAAAACK!
It was fun while it lasted.
TJ Warren it’s your chance
I didn’t buy them as legit contenders in the West, but still a tough blow.
The team sitting in first place a month from the playoffs wasn’t a legit contender?
Apparently not.
They ain’t a legit contender! Don’t care what their record is
Do you see them beating Denver, the Clippers, or even the Suns in a seven game series? Their position in the regular season standings is irrelevant.
injuries happen?
Only perennial bed s***ters in the playoffs can be considered non-contenders. As someone who lives in Toronto, I can tell you that a season record doesn’t mean much. I think we can all agree the Wolves are a top 10 team (perhaps less now w the KAT injury), and I think anything higher would be based purely on opinion. Yes, the numbers don’t lie, but there are several teams that seem way more threatening in the playoffs. Some teams have suffered injuries, underperforming players, coaching changes, etc. and have poorer records to show for it.
Laughing. Ant without Kat makes them a serious contender.
Two words:
NAZ REID
robert williams
It’s that time of the year ……..
Naz Reid should start at PF. McDaniels still at SF. Play Garza more at backup C. Lenard Miller more at PF. Minott more at SF more. Play Moore more at SG. TJ Warren off the bench trying get some buckets. Sign Garza to. Standard deal. Warren to a contract as well. Waive McLaughlin and two way Clark(maybe Nix too,) and look at Hayes and someone else. Good blend of players
Killian Hayes or Jazian Gortmen and John Butler signed
Season over Minnesota.
Not a wolves fan but respect how they’ve come together (sort of) and were a scary/interesting matchup. This sucks though. Get well soon KAT
Only a month after surgery for a tear? Usually that surgery is multiple months recovery no?
It depends. If they sew it back then much longer. If they trim off the torn piece then a shorter time.
If even a smaller piece than that and just a little tear, they’ll cut and suck it out ortho style. 30 days done.
Good to know thank you.
I think he will still not be the same after the surgery. Kat is not young anymore. Well Nuggets is still the favorite to win the West, and also repeat as champion.
Think it’s safe to say Boston is the favorite to win the trophy, the Thunder can give the Nuggets hell.
Month? This cruels wolves, not getting through west anyways. Don’t mean to be harsh but KAT off season trade could really help Minnesota roster construction and play. This is ant’s team and I love KAT but, double big won’t get it done.
It was getting it done for most of the season, you don’t trade a play like KAT unless you get one hell of an offer.
You don’t trade anyone unless you think it’s fair or a good deal. Who did you actually trust wolves to beat in the playoffs? How many playoff series has KAT won? I’ll stick with a KAT trade rounds out the roster and makes the team better.
It’s a fair Q
They sit at the apron 2 before even vet min”ing their last 3 spots – Slow Mo at 8~ puts them 10 mill + over Apron 2 even if they let Morris walk
I’ll believe a Minny payroll at 200+ mill when I see it – Untiil then fair to put on your creative caps here
* they could try to slide jaden McDaniels into a cap team like Phil or Utah.
Laughing. Kat put up 50 any time he choose. Kat take double team from antman. Kat shoot 3 light out. Kat play 3 -4 -5. Laughing. Kat unselfish.