basketball

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 should be back by the start of the conference playoffs West.

Towns will be re-evaluated in four weeks, but the procedure should give him the opportunity to return early in the playoffs, sources said. The Timberwolves (44-19) are fighting for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, maintaining a half-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The cities will undergo the operation at the beginning of next week.

Towns spoke with team doctors and specialists about what to do once an MRI discovered the tear in recent days, and vowed to proceed immediately because it gives him a chance to rehabilitate and return to the team for what becomes the best regular season. in franchise history.

Towns, who appeared in his fourth All-Star Game in 2024, is one of five players in the NBA averaging 20 points, 50% shooting and 40% 3-point shooting, according to ESPN Stats & Information research . The Timberwolves have an offensive efficiency rating of 116.5 with Towns on the floor — and 106.1 without him, according to Stats & Information.

The Timberwolves have a deep front line and Naz Reid will see his playing time increase in Towns’ absence.