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As reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Karl-Anthony Towns has been ruled out for at least a month due to a torn meniscus.
The veteran big man has been vital to the Timberwolves’ climb to the top of the Western Conference. Without him in the rotation, Chris Finch’s team will struggle to compete for a championship.
Towns’ size has been a significant part of Minnesota’s defensive system. His presence next to Rudy Gobert has essentially shut the door for opposing teams inside the paint. Furthermore, the Timberwolves have the best defensive rating in the league.
Without Towns on the court, that defensive structure will undoubtedly weaken, as will Minnesota’s offense. When on the floor, Towns can operate as a perimeter scoring threat or as a playmaking hub via hand-off actions.
He is an elite screener, and his interior game holds up against the best of them. In 60 games, he is averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from the perimeter.
The Timberwolves have been a fun story this year. They’ve slowly rebuilt their roster through the draft and then swung for the fences by acquiring Gobert in 2022.
This season has been a culmination of their efforts. They were supposed to be among the contenders. Towns’ injury will cost them that opportunity. There’s also no telling how long the front office can keep the current roster together, as it projects to become costly in the coming seasons.
Minnesota’s championship window is narrow. Posing one of its best players for the remainder of the regular season will further shrink its opportunities for success.
Towns’ injury is a blow not only to him but also to an entire fan base that’s been waiting for a season like this one since Kevin Garnett left for the Boston Celtics in 2007.
Now, all Minnesota can do is wait and see if its star big will be back in time in the postseason and whether he will be in a position to help his team win.
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