Timberwolves Say Karl-Anthony Towns Close, But Not How Close

The Timberwolves have issued a press release on standout forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns, saying he is expected to return in the “coming weeks.”

Towns has been out since late November with a right calf strain, with Minnesota managing to stay in the playoff picture without him. Once he finally does return, he’ll finally get to team up with point guard Mike Conley, who was acquired at the trade deadline and has seemingly give the team a lift.

While the update on Towns was fairly vague, it did say he has returned to on-court workouts, though it does not appear he has begun to practice with the rest of the team. (The press release did not specify, using only the tried and true “basketball activities” as its only indicator.)

Either way, Towns is a clear difference-maker and just the idea that he could be back soon should give Minnesota another boost in a season that is going relatively well lately.

The Timberwolves (35-34) currently hold the No. 7 seed in the remarkably tight Western Conference — just two games behind the fourth-place Suns and two games ahead of the 11th-place Jazz. 

Towns, 27, is averaging 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists, shooting 51 percent from the field in 21 games.