Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns was sidelined for Thursday's game against the Indiana Pacers due to left knee soreness. This marks Towns' third absence of the season, with his previous non-appearance on February 27 attributed to personal reasons. Towns, a key player for the Timberwolves, has been averaging 22.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in the 60 games he has started this season.
As of Wednesday, the Timberwolves were leading the Western Conference standings, holding a half-game advantage over the Oklahoma City Thunder and a one-game lead over the Denver Nuggets. The team's strong performance has been notable, with a record of 8-3 since February 8.
In addition to Towns' absence, the Timberwolves also had Jordan McLaughlin listed as questionable for the game due to an illness. Despite these setbacks, Minnesota is coming off a recent victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, securing a 119-114 win in their last home game.
