Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Cities will endure surgical procedure on a torn meniscus in his left knee, in line with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Cities will reportedly be re-evaluated in a month and is anticipated to return early within the Western Convention playoffs. The Timberwolves’ last common season recreation is on April 14.
A totally wholesome Cities had been an enormous a part of Minnesota’s surge into the highest tier of the Western Convention this season. He is averaged 22.1 factors with 8.4 rebounds in 60 video games, beginning each single one. He is missed simply two video games this season up so far.
The Timberwolves at present have a 44-19 document, a half-game forward of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for first place within the Western Convention. The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are shut behind, each inside three video games within the standings.
With 20 video games left, it might take a substantial downward slide for the Wolves to search out themselves fully out of playoff rivalry. There is a 10-game buffer between them and the Los Angeles Lakers, who’re at present within the final spot of the play-in with a 34-30 document, with 19 video games to play for the T-Wolves and 18 for the Lakers. Principally, it might require one thing just like the Timberwolves going 4-15 for the remainder of the season and the Lakers to go 15-3, with the remainder of the play-in groups being equally unstoppable.
Even falling into the play-in match would require a big slide, with the seventh-place Sacramento Kings at present sitting eight video games behind Minnesota.
Whereas the Timberwolves might be able to preserve their head above water by means of the remainder of the common season, the playoffs are an entire completely different animal. This felt just like the yr Minnesota takes a leap, and it might solely hope Cities will probably be alongside for the trip.