Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns will undergo surgery to repair a torn left meniscus, and sources told ESPN on Thursday night that he is expected to be back by early in the Western Conference playoffs.
Towns will be reevaluated in four weeks, but the procedure is expected to give him the opportunity to return sometime in the early part of the postseason, sources said. The Timberwolves (44-19) are fighting for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, holding onto a half-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Towns will undergo the surgery early next week.
Towns conferred with team doctors and specialists on a course of action once an MRI discovered the tear in recent days, and committed to the immediate procedure because it gives him a chance to rehab and get back to the team for what's turning into the best regular season in franchise history.
Towns, who made his fourth All-Star Game in 2024, is one of five players in the NBA averaging 20 points, 50% shooting and 40% on 3-pointers, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Timberwolves have a 116.5 offensive efficiency with Towns on the floor -- and 106.1 without him, per Stats & Information.
The Timberwolves have a deep frontline, and Naz Reid will see increased minutes in Towns' absence.