The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the best teams in the NBA throughout the 2023-24 season. Their roster has gelled incredibly well, as the additions of Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley Jr. last offseason and season are paying dividends.
With a record of 43-19, they are tied for first place in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, holding onto that place in the standings is going to be tough as they navigate a devastating injury to NBA All-Star big man, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns was already ruled out of Thursday night’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers because of knee soreness. It will be only the third game this season Towns has missed, as he has been durable after injury issues in three out of the last four seasons.
Alas, he is going to miss a lot more than just Thursday’s contest. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the knee soreness Towns is dealing with is much worse. He has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out indefinitely.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Certainly not how the Timberwolves wanted to start a six-game road trip. This is a truly crushing blow for a Minnesota team that has been rolling this season. Towns has been averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 32.8 minutes per game this season.
That is a huge void being created in their lineup without him as the starting power forward. It is going to take a complete team effort to replace his production, as Jaden McDaniels will assuredly see an increased role offensively with Towns sidelined. Kyle Anderson could slide into his spot in the starting lineup.
Teams are going to be able to focus even more of their defensive game plan on Anthony Edwards, as there isn’t another consistent scoring threat teams need to be worried about. Head coach Chris Finch will have to adjust his entire game plan as Towns was a major part of it on both ends of the floor.
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