NBA Rumors: Karl-Anthony Towns to Return to Wolves from Knee Injury Before Playoffs

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a tight race for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference, and they received some positive news on Wednesday that will surely boost their chances of clinching the top spot.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Timberwolves star forward Karl-Anthony Towns "is expected to return" in one of the team's three final regular-season games before the playoffs. Towns has been out since early March due to a torn meniscus and he "attacked rehab and impressed" his teammates and coaches with his recovery.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added Towns "isn't planning to play" against the Nuggets, "but a return on the weekend against Atlanta or Phoenix looms possible."

The Timberwolves improved to 55-24 with Tuesday's 130-121 win over the Washington Wizards thanks to a 51-point explosion by star guard Anthony Edwards. Minnesota is tied with the Denver Nuggets for first place in the West, and the two teams will face off in a marquee matchup on Wednesday night.

After facing the Nuggets, the Timberwolves will close out the regular season with a pair of home matchups against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Getting Towns back for any of those games would be a welcome sight for Minnesota fans.

Before tearing his meniscus on March 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Towns had been in the midst of another strong season. He earned his fourth career All-Star selection while posting averages of 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and a career-high 42.3 percent from three-point range.

In Towns' absence, backup center Naz Reid has seen more action in the frontcourt alongside star center Rudy Gobert, who appears to be well on his way to his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

Other players like Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson have also increased their production to make up for the loss of their star big man, which should give Minnesota the depth it needs to make a deep run in the playoffs when Towns returns.