Karl-Anthony Towns could return from injury this week

Karl-Anthony Towns could be back on the court for the Minnesota Timberwolves this week.

The former Cat has been sidelined since November 28 with a Grade 3 calf strain, but Shams Charania is reporting this morning that he and Anthony Edwards (ankle) could return as soon as Wednesday’s game vs. the Atlanta Hawks. Before his injury, Towns was averaging 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 21 games this season, shooting 50.5% from the floor. His and Edwards’ return can’t come at a better time for the Timberwolves, who have lost five of their last six games.

In an interview with The Athletic, Towns opened up about his injury. Initially, he tore “like 95 percent” of his calf and his rehab was estimated to take eight to 12 weeks. He revealed that he suffered a “major setback” from his recovery in late January, which kept him off the Timberwolves’ bench during games because he had to have his foot elevated. Although he was desperate to get back on the court, his injury was such that if he rushed his recovery, he risked a catastrophic injury like an Achilles tear or torn ACL.

“That was a very real possibility of happening if I went back on the court,” Towns told The Athletic’s Joe Krawczynski. “It was one of those things we were all worried about. As a competitor I was like, ‘Ah f— it, I’ll play. I can do it. I’ll figure it out.’ There was just no way with what I had that I could even attempt to do that.”

Towns has finally reached the point of his recovery where the light is at the end of the tunnel. Last week, he started doing on-court work and was cleared to participate in some five-on-five games in practice. Now, Charania says he could be available to play as soon as Wednesday. For Towns, it can’t come soon enough.

“I’ve been playing really, really well in those five-on-fives,” Towns said. “I’m super excited to get out there again and show the world what I do best, and that’s be an all-world player and be one of the best players I can possibly be.”

Go get ’em, Karl.

Me waiting to get cleared to play…..let the kid do what he loves 🏀 pic.twitter.com/WlDGNZ1Ctm

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 18, 2023