Will the Timberwolves get Karl-Anthony Towns back before the 2023 NBA Playoffs begin?
The three-time All-Star has been sidelined since the end of November after suffering a non-contact leg injury. With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the Timberwolves announced that he has been participating in basketball activities and is nearing a return.
What's next for Towns? Here's everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he may return.
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What is Karl-Anthony Towns' injury?
In the third quarter of a loss to the Wizards on Nov. 28, Towns pulled up grabbing his right leg as he made his way back down the court, in what appeared to be a non-contact leg injury.
Shortly after, he left the game for good and was diagnosed with a Grade 3 right calf strain.
Karl-Anthony Towns is helped off the court after an apparent lower leg injury. #RaisedByWolves | #NBA pic.twitter.com/AGHLLXlnbW
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) November 29, 2022
Towns entered the game averaging 21.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 50.8 percent shooting from the field.
How long will Karl-Anthony Towns be out?
On Jan. 20, Towns revealed he had a Grade 3 calf strain and knew he would be out longer than four-to-six weeks, which was the timeline originally reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. A month later, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said Towns was in the "final stages" of his recovery.
Prior to the All-Star break, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Minnesota hoped Towns could play in "at least" the final 10-15 games of the regular season. That still seems possible.
In an update on March 15, the Timberwolves announced that Towns is expected to return "in the coming weeks."
Karl-Anthony Towns career stats, highlights
- 23.1 points per game
- 11.2 rebounds per game
- 3.2 assists per game
- 1.3 blocks per game
- 0.8 steals per game
- 2.7 turnovers per game
- 34.2 minutes per game
- 52.7 percent field goal shooting
- 39.3 percent 3-point shooting
- 83.5 percent free throw shooting
