Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said Thursday that Karl-Anthony Towns is in the “final stages” of his recovery from a severe calf strain but he didn’t give a timeline for the big man’s return. But fans got an assist from Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers saying Towns might be back “within in the next couple of weeks.”
“From what I hear, it’s supposed to be all hopeful. For him, he’s starting to be very hopeful that he can be back in the next couple of weeks. That’s what I hear,” said Rivers, speaking on the latest episode of Off Guard with Austin Rivers.
“He’s close. He’s in the weight room now, he’s running around. It looks like he’s going to be on the court soon. I would have to imagine within the next couple of weeks we get him back.”
Towns was injured Nov. 28 against the Wizards and has missed the last 40 games. Minnesota has 21 games left in the regular season and they’re in the middle of a tight Western Conference playoff race. Entering play Friday, the Wolves were 7th in the West but only two games behind the fourth place Clippers.
A two-week timeline for Towns would be on par with Sham Charania’s report saying the Wolves hope he can play “at least” the final 10-15 games before the playoffs.
“We’re prepared to do it with or without because we don’t really know with certainty,” Rivers later clarified. “Obviously we want him to get his body right 100%, but as of right now it looks like a couple weeks still.”
Austin Rivers said this about KAT on his 'Off Guard' Podcast today:
"From what I hear, it’s supposed to be, all hopeful, for him, he’s starting to be very hopeful that he can be back in the next couple of weeks."
**Rivers added he's not certain. But, still encouraging pic.twitter.com/X5305lBefp
— Jack Borman (@jrborman13) February 24, 2023
