Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards hits his head ON THE RIM as he makes game-saving block vs. Pacers… but Minnesota loses Karl-Anthony Towns to knee surgery for at least four weeks
- Towns will have surgery next week to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee
- Edwards saved Thursday’s win in Indianapolis with a memorable blocked shot
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Anthony Edwards miraculously hit his head on the rim Thursday in Indianapolis while making a game-saving block in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ win over the Pacers.
But the biggest news of the night had to do with power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who will undergo surgery next week for a meniscus tear in his left knee.
The All-Star will miss at least four weeks, the team said. That would mean Towns will be sidelined for at least another thirteen games — most of Minnesota’s remaining regular season in first place. However, optimism remains that the 28-year-old will be available when Minnesota enters the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Towns did not play in the Wolves’ win at Indiana on Thursday night. Still, Minnesota won 113-111 on a miraculous last-second block by Edwards, who appeared to hit his head on the rim while denying a last-second layup from the Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith.
“I hit my head, I think on the edge,” Edwards told Bally Sports North afterwards. ‘It hurts very much. And I landed on my wrist. I’ve never jumped so high in my life.’
Minnesota center Rudy Gobert added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves as the Timberwolves moved into first place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of Oklahoma City.
Minnesota won 113-111 on a miraculous last-second block by Anthony Edwards, who appeared to hit his head on the rim while denying a last-second layup by the Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates the victory over the Indiana Pacers
Karl-Anthony Towns will undergo surgery next week to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee
“His shot was next level,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said when asked about Edwards. “Even when we double-teamed him, he eluded us. Look, he’s a great player and that’s why every second of every minute of every game is important.”
As for Towns, the team revealed after the game that an MRI exam performed Wednesday revealed the meniscus tear.
“Further updates will be provided as they become available,” the team said.
The ninth-year forward is averaging 22.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 42.3 percent from 3-point range.
Before Thursday, he had missed just one game this season due to a left knee injury on Dec. 23, and he showed no obvious signs of trouble in Monday’s win against Portland — though he played just 21 minutes, his second-lowest total. this season.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch believes the Timberwolves can adapt to a period without Towns.
“It’s not a plug-in for one person to fill the role of Karl,” he said. ‘What I like about our team is that we have a multitude of options. We can go a lot of different directions based on matchups on a given night. We’ve started with different guys all season anyway.’