Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) could return Friday

Field Level Media|published: Thu 11th April, 19:07 2024

Mar 4, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dribbles against the Portland Trail Blazers in the third quarter at Target Center. credits: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves star big man Karl-Anthony Towns will likely return to action against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday after missing five-plus weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Towns was updated to questionable on Thursday, bolstering his chances of playing against the Hawks.

Towns, 28, last played on March 4 when he injured the knee in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. He was cleared for full contact on Tuesday.

The Timberwolves trail the Denver Nuggets by one game with two contests remaining as part of a three-way battle for top seed in the Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder are also one game back.

Minnesota closes the regular season on Sunday against the visiting Phoenix Suns.

A four-time All-Star, Towns is averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 60 games this season, while shooting a career-high 42.3 percent from 3-point range.

The 7-footer has averaged 22.9 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 571 games (all starts) since the Timberwolves drafted him No. 1 overall in 2015.

—Field Level Media