David Chao, MD
2 min read • April 03, 2024
Posted in
With a half-dozen games remaining in the regular season, there is reportedly optimism that Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns can return from his meniscus surgery ahead of the playoffs.
Our panel of doctors share optimism that he can return before the end of the regular season - underwent meniscus trim surgery in early March.
As our staff laid out in early March, Towns’ recovery should be swifter than Joel Embiid’s because it was his first meniscus trim. The 6-8 week recovery timeline could allow him to return to the court in mid-April, with a handful of regular season games left, or in late April during the team’s opening playoff series.
Towns currently carries a SIC score of 55.
As long as he doesn’t hit a snag in his recovery, the team will likely get him back to game action in final few regular season contests to in an attempt to ramp him up for the playoffs.
Even if he returns to the court ahead of the playoffs, he is unlikely to be 100% for the first few games of the opening playoff series.
Surprisingly, Minnesota has gone 9-4 since Towns went down with his left knee injury on March 4.
As of Wednesday morning, the Timberwolves (52-23) were tied for second place in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA playoffs begin April 20, with the conference semifinals set to begin May 4-7 depending on results.
The four-time All Star is averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3 assists this season while shooting 50.6% from the field, 42.3% from 3-point range and 87.4% from the free throw line.
Written by David Chao, MD
