Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders indicated during Thursday’s shootaround that Karl-Anthony Towns could be back in the lineup tonight, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune relays. However, Saunders said during warmups that Towns’ return will be postponed by at least one more game since the club wants to make sure he’s fully ready (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic).
Towns, who is dealing with a left knee injury, hasn’t suited up for the Timberwolves since December 13 after putting up some of the league’s best numbers in his first 23 games. While Minnesota initially struggled without its star, the team has won four of its last seven contests to remain in the playoff hunt.
With the 16-20 Spurs holding the No. 8 seed, the 14-22 Timberwolves are just two games back, and will look to make a push once Towns returns. Based on Saunders’ comments, it sounds like there’s a decent chance that could happen on Saturday in Houston.