Timberwolves standout center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns will return to the lineup vs. the Hawks on Wednesday after missing 51 games with a right calf strain, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Specifically, Towns has been sidelined since Nov. 8.
“I feel good there is a day (coming),” Towns said, via Krawczynski. “There’s a time. I’ve been in the darkness of the tunnel and trying to figure out where I’m going. It’s good to know that there’s some light at the end of the tunnel.”
Towns was initially expected to return four to six weeks after the initial diagnosis. But he suffered a setback in January. For much of the time since, he had to keep the leg elevated, he told Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
“I was standing up for 20 minutes, and my leg was done,” he said. “That was my first time trying it. I was thinking I could do it, and there was no way.”
But sitting, watching and waiting admittedly hasn’t always been easy. Perhaps especially since Minnesota has looked better overall after acquiring point guard Mike Conley from the Jazz in February.
“I’ve been itching to play,” Towns said. “I’ve worked extremely hard to get to the moment to play. Setbacks happen. I couldn’t do it. I’ve wanted to play basketball so bad for so long.”
The Timberwolves (36-37) sit in ninth place in the Western Conference following Monday’s road win over the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns says he suffered a setback in January that prolonged his recovery but he is “feeling great in 5 on 5” work during practice and is "itching to play." https://t.co/QNFLrINSq2
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) March 20, 2023
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
