2 min read • March 07, 2024
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Minnesota Timberwolves star big Karl-Anthony Towns will undergo surgery on the torn meniscus in his left knee, but he has a good chance to return for the playoffs, according to our panel of doctors.
Towns exited the March 4 game against the Trail Blazers after playing 21 minutes and underwent a subsequent MRI that revealed the meniscus tear.
While fellow versatile big man Joel Embiid is also recovering from a meniscus tear in his left knee that required surgery in early February, Towns could return to game action ahead of Embiid based on several factors.
There are typically two options for meniscus surgeries: a trim and a repair.
A meniscus trim carries a recovery timeline of 6-8 weeks depending on the player, while a repair keeps players out a minimum of six months.
With the start of the playoffs roughly five weeks away, expect Towns to undergo surgery soon and begin ramping up his on-court activity around mid-April.
While it remains to be seen what type of meniscus tear Towns has, Embiid is dealing with a lateral meniscus flap tear which requires more recovery time than a traditional meniscus trim.
The 76ers are reportedly hoping for Embiid to return in late March, but our panel of doctors detailed why early-to-mid April is more realistic.
As of Thursday morning, the Timberwolves (43-19) were tied for first place in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA playoffs begin April 20, with the conference semifinals set to begin May 4-7 depending on results. At the very least, Towns will be back for the conference semifinals but it would not be surprising to see him appear in the opening round.
The four-time All Star is averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3 assists this season while shooting 50.6% from the field, 42.3% from 3-point range and 87.4% from the free throw line.
Minnesota has played just two games without Towns this season, but the team is 2-0 in those games. Last season – when Towns missed 53 games with a calf strain – the team had a record of 27-26.
With Towns out for an extended stretch, head coach Chris Finch can turn to Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson to provide more minutes.
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