Karl-Anthony Towns could return from injury this week

Towns hasn't played since March 4 because of a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Feb 28, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) / Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

It's beginning to look like Karl-Anthony Towns is a lock to be back for the Timberwolves in time for the playoffs, perhaps even playing in games this week.

"I'm told he is very, very close to returning to action," Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday. "There is optimism that Karl-Anthony Towns will play before the playoffs start."

Towns returning before the start of the playoffs would mean he's back on the court this week. The Wolves have just four games – all this week – to end the regular season. They host Washington Tuesday night and then play the Nuggets in Denver Wednesday night. After an off day Thursday they host the Atlanta Hawks and then end the regular season at home Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.

The Timberwolves announced March 12 – the day Towns underwent surgery on his knee – that he would be reevaluated four weeks later. Four weeks from March 12 is Tuesday, April 9. Not only does the timing fit perfectly with the window the team provided, but Towns was taking shots after the team's shootaround in Los Angeles on Sunday morning and Charania says Towns particpated in a scrimmage on Sunday.

If Towns is scrimmaging, it could be a matter of getting the medical go-ahead before he's back on the court.

If he does return this week it would be an astonishing recovery post-meniscus surgery, which is magnified when considering that 76ers star Joel Embiid missed two fulls months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The severity of each player's menisci injury is tough to compare, but it certainly provides some interesting context.

It'll also be interesting to see how Minnesota brings Towns back. Will he come off the bench in the Naz Reid sixth man role or will he immediatley return to the starting lineup? Reid scored 31 points on 12-of-16 shooting Sunday against the Lakers and he's filled in admirably since Towns went out with the injury in early March.

One way or another, the Timberwolves might be fully healthy in time for the playoffs.