KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS

A host of contenders are in need of big moves. Plus, will Minnesota thrive without KAT? Ric Bucher has the inside scoop.

Karl-Anthony Towns left Monday's game against the Washington Wizards with a non-contact calf injury. The Minnesota Timberwolves forward collapsed while running up the court during the third quarter. Prayers up to Karl-Anthony Towns 🙏pic.twitter.com/gHTopLjPUO — 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 (@_Talkin_NBA) November 29, 2022He clutched the back of his right calf and eventually needed help off the floor. KAT is down after suffering a non contact injury on his lower right leg 🙏 pic.twitter.com/O3gEMlz24K — NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) November 29, 2022The Timberwolves later announced that he would not return to the game with a calf strain. The Timberwolves are off to a 10-10 start and have struggled at times to adjust to a rebuilt front line that now features center Rudy Gobert playing alongside Towns.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns had to be helped off the court in the third quarter at Washington on Monday night because of an apparent right leg injury. Towns was well behind the play during a Washington break and grabbed his knee area. After a 3-pointer by Kyle Kuzma, play stopped with Towns down on the floor near midcourt. He was immediately helped toward the locker room, not putting any weight on his right leg. Towns has started all 21 games for Minnesota this season and entered Monday averaging 21.4 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns had to be helped off the court in the third quarter at Washington because of what the team is calling a right calf strain.

Anthony Edwards scored 35 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 30 and the Minnesota Timberwolves built a 27-point lead in the first half in a 126-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.

CLEVELAND — (AP) — D’Angelo Russell had season highs of 30 points and 12 assists, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 129-124 on Sunday night. Garland, whose 51 points were also a career best, made two free throws with 8.3 seconds left to pull Cleveland within 126-124, but Russell made it 127-124 from the foul line. Prince had 19 points off the bench and Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Lamar Stevens had 15 points, Evan Mobley grabbed 13 rebounds and Love had 14 points for the Cavaliers. Cavaliers: F Dean Wade (right knee soreness) missed his second game in a row.

D’Angelo Russell had season highs of 30 points and 12 assists, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 129-124.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jrue Holiday scored 29 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-102 to improve to 8-0, the best start to a season in franchise history.

MINNEAPOLIS — (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 16 of his 29 points in the third quarter, Rudy Gobert added 22 points and 21 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves extended the Los Angeles Lakers’ winless start with a 111-102 win on Friday night. LeBron James scored 28 points for Los Angeles, which was without Anthony Davis due to low back tightness. Los Angeles entered the day with the league’s lowest shooting percentages, hitting 41.6% from the field and 22.3% from 3. Without Davis, Minnesota used its twin towers of Gobert and Towns inside. With its focus inside, Minnesota scored 46 points in the paint for the game.

Anthony Edwards scored 16 of his 29 points in the third quarter, Rudy Gobert added 22 points and 21 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves extended the Los Angeles Lakers’ winless start with a 111-102 win.

Instead of addressing Karl-Anthony Towns' comments with words, the Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards let his actions do the talking after a win Wednesday night.

Minnesota ranked 13th in points allowed per possession last season, the franchise's best finish in eight years . To their credit, the Wolves did create plenty of chaos, forcing turnovers at the NBA's second-highest rate last season . The Jazz hardly ever allowed shots at the rim or from the short corners during Gobert's tenure in Utah. Already an electric driver with a lightning-quick first step, the vertical thrust of a space shuttle launch, and the strength to bulldoze his way to the rim, Edwards added more craft to his game in Year 2. Are Edwards and hopeful 3-and-D wing Jaden McDaniels (the most important non-headline-name piece on the roster ) ready for that responsibility?

Towns confirmed to reporters that he was hospitalized with an illness and that his weight had dropped to 231 pounds — 17 pounds below his listed playing weight. Some of Towns' weight loss was intentional as he transitions to power forward. He told reporters that he plans to test himself at his current weight before deciding whether to pack on more pounds. Head coach Chris Finch told reporters that he won't play in Tuesday's preseason opener against the Miami Heat. Towns lost seven family members including his mother to COVID-19 before testing positive for the first time in 2001.

Alex Rodriguez was standing near his courtside seat, oblivious to a few fans who were snapping a quick photo of the baseball great as they walked by.

Rudy Gobert has been traded by the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a massive package of players and draft picks, a person with knowledge of the blockbuster deal said.

Zach LaVine is staying in Chicago.

The NBA generated more basketball related income than ever this past season, the total number coming up just short of $9 billion.

Free agency opens Thursday in the NBA.

A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Denver Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has agreed to take a similar role with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks each scored 23 points to steer a third fourth-quarter comeback victory in the series by the Memphis Grizzlies, who eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 114-106 victory in Game 6.

Ja Morant scored on a layup with a second left, and the Memphis Grizzlies rallied from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to edge the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-109 and grab a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.

Grizzlies Timberwolves Basketball Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after scoring against the Memphis Grizzlies early in the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. Morant went 4 for 13 from the floor, and had 11 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out with seven points, and 25 of the Grizzlies' 33 fouls were called their starters. But Tyus Jones had his 3-pointer fall short with 10.5 seconds to go, and Edwards grabbed the rebound. When Towns swished a 3 from the top of the key on the first possession, a jet-like roar followed.

Karl-Anthony Towns rebounded from two rough games with a career playoff-best 33 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves pull out a 119-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Scoring has rarely looked so difficult for Kevin Durant.

Tyus Jones hit two dagger 3-pointers against his former team down the stretch, and the Grizzlies seized back home-court advantage. They stunned a Wolves team that won Game 1 on the road 130-117, but took an ugly 124-96 loss in Game 2. After the NBA's highest-scoring team made only 30 field goals in Game 2 to match a season low, the Wolves hit only 33 in Game 3. HARD SHIFTThe Grizzlies used a 23-4 run over the final 10:28 of the second quarter to make a game of this. TIP-INSGrizzlies: Kyle Anderson started for the Grizzlies in place of Steven Adams, who was dominated by Towns in Game 1 and played only 3 minutes in Game 2.

Desmond Bane made seven 3-pointers and had 26 points and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 26-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-95 on Thursday night for a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.

Ja Morant scored 23 points and handed out 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies looked much more like the team that posted the NBA’s second-best record, routing the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-96 to even up their first-round Western Conference series at 1 apiece.

Game 1s brought greatness out of some.

Anthony Edwards scored 36 points in his postseason debut, and the seventh-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 to grab home-court advantage in the opener of their first-round Western Conference series.

Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell combined for 59 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 in a play-in game.

Jayson Tatum scored 34 points and Jaylen Brown had 31 points and 10 rebounds to help the Boston Celtics coast to a 134-112 over the Minnesota Timberwolves and take over the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Deandre Ayton scored a career-high 35 points and had 14 rebounds, Devin Booker had 22 of his 28 points in the second half and the Phoenix Suns surged past trash-talking Minnesota 125-116 on Wednesday night.

Kyrie Irving’s 60-point barrage at Orlando on Tuesday night was the seventh 50-point effort in the league so far this month — with half of March remaining. March’s seven 50-point games have come in a span of 11 days. It matches the highest number of 50-point games in the same calendar month in the NBA in the last 60 years. August 2020 also had seven 50-point efforts, four of those being playoff games at the restart bubble inside Walt Disney World. The last month with more 50-point games in the NBA was nearly six decades ago — all the way back to December 1962.

Turns out, March has more madness than just college basketball.

Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 60 points, most in the Nets’ NBA history, to lead Brooklyn to a 150-108 victory over the Orlando Magic.

(AP Photo/Darren Abate) (Darren Abate)MINNEAPOLIS — (AP) — This is Karl-Anthony Towns' seventh season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, his status well established as the franchise player for this long-languishing organization. For the first time in his NBA career, Towns has said often, he's feeling fully appreciated. His latest feat was quite the showstopper: a franchise-record 60 points in a 149-139 win at San Antonio on Monday night. “You look up and see 60 and the whole team happy. The difference in chemistry with this team compared to the others he's played on in Minnesota is clear.

This is the seventh season for Karl-Anthony Towns with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Timberwolves Spurs Basketball Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against San Antonio Spurs' Jakob Poeltl during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Monday, March 14, 2022, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) (Darren Abate)SAN ANTONIO — (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had a team-record 60 points — the most scored in the NBA this season — and the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 149-139 on Monday night. San Antonio has lost two straight since Gregg Popovich earned his 1,336th career victory to become the winningest coach in NBA history. Spurs forward Keldon Johnson had 34 points, Dejounte Murray added 30 points and 12 assists, and Lonnie Walker IV scored 22. Towns had 14 points and five rebounds while playing the entire first quarter against Jakob Poeltl and Zach Collins.

Karl-Anthony Towns had a team-record 60 points, the most scored in the NBA this season, and the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 149-139.

James Harden had 27 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in his 76ers debut, Joel Embiid added 34 points and 10 rebounds and Philadelphia routed the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-102 on Friday night.

NBA All-Star Skills Challenge Basketball Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates after winning the three-point shot skills challenge competition, part of NBA All-Star basketball game weekend, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Cleveland. Minnesota's 7-footer became the first center to win the 3-Point Shooting Contest, defeating seven guards during the NBA's All-Star Saturday and providing a memorable moment on a night the dunk contest barely got off the ground. Golden State's Juan Toscano-Anderson was second as the dunk contest, once a marquee event that at times trumped the All-Star Game, fell flat. After his surprising 3-point win, Towns accepted his trophy at mid-court and immediately turned toward Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal sitting courtside in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It’s coming back home where it belongs.”The dunk contest started with some promise and fizzled fast.

Karl-Anthony Towns gave big men everywhere something to shoot for.

Obi Toppin won the slam dunk contest, earning a 47 on his final dunk when he needed to do little more than put the ball in the basket after Juan Toscano-Anderson couldn't on his previous try. Toppin, the New York Knicks forward, beat Golden State's Toscano-Anderson in the final round to win the event after finishing second as a rookie. Houston rookie Jalen Green and Orlando guard Cole Anthony failed to advance.

The NBA’s All-Star weekend is about fashion and fun, Saturday night slams and celebrating the very best in the game today.

Kevin Durant wanted no part of James Harden on the day their partnership in Brooklyn ended.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will team up with two of his brothers to compete in a revamped Skills Challenge during the NBA’s All-Star Saturday night.

Devin Booker and Chris Paul were chosen as reserves for the NBA All-Star Game, giving the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns two selections.

Devin Booker scored 29 points, Chris Paul had a triple-double with 21 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds and the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns won their ninth straight game, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 134-124 on Friday night.

Stephen Curry rediscovered his 3-point touch after a rough shooting stretch and scored 29 points, Klay Thompson added 23 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-115.

Desmond Bane scored 21 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 20 and the Memphis Grizzlies pulled away in the final minutes for their 11th straight victory, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-108 on Thursday night.

Jordyn Woods is all smiles after being showered with Christmas gifts from her boyfriend Karl-Anthony Towns. The socialite gave her legion of followers on Instagram […]

Lakers Timberwolves Basketball Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) works past Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) (Bruce Kluckhohn)MINNEAPOLIS — (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 10 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves blew out the depleted Los Angeles Lakers for a second time this season, 110-92 on Friday night. Isaiah Thomas made his season debut with 19 points, Russell Westbrook had 14 points and Kent Bazemore matched his season high with 11 points. The Wolves, who beat the Lakers 107-83 in Los Angeles on Nov. 12 without James in the lineup, had a 61-36 rebounding advantage. MEN DOWNThe Lakers had Avery Bradley, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn and Austin Reaves in the protocols.

Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves blew out the depleted Los Angeles Lakers for a second time this season with a 110-92 victory.

Cole Anthony scored a season-high 31 points and Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in 15 points and 14 rebounds as the Orlando Magic came from behind to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-97 on Monday night.

'Legend'ary 'Addams Family' tribute Singer John Legend channels Gomez Addams, while his daughter remain in character and refuses to smile for her turn as Wednesday Addams for Halloween 2021. (John Legend)Social media is abuzz with celebrities flaunting their spookiest, goriest and, arguably, most adorable Halloween looks. Power couple John Legend and Chrissy Teigen channel their inner “Addams Family”:3. Model Jordyn Woods and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns offer haunting Little Red Riding Hood take:4. Pain has a face, but it’s never looked quite as good as Megan Thee Stallion:©2021 Cox Media Group

Jordyn Woods‘ NBA baller boyfriend Karl-Anthony Towns has suffered many tragic family losses due to COVID-19, including his mother, and although he admits he’s forever […]

Paris Saint-Germain fans hail Lionel Messi's first goal since joining the club, as the French side beat Manchester City 2-0 at the Parc des Princes stadium.

The United Nations estimates one in 10 children is performing forced labor. Debora Patta spoke to a former child slave who was forced to deep-water dive for fishing nets in Ghana.

This week, Jordyn Woods launched her new fitness app, FrstPlace, and was met by backlash from fans who accused her […] The post Karl-Anthony Towns defends Jordyn Woods amidst weight loss backlash: ‘This is all-natural’ appeared first on TheGrio.

Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell each scored 27 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves built a 30-point halftime lead, led by 43 in the third quarter and cruised to a 128-96 rout of the Orlando Magic on Sunday night.

D’Angelo Russell had a season-high seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 105-104.

Kevin Durant scored 31 points on 11-for-15 shooting in his most productive performance in 2 1/2 months, as the Brooklyn Nets blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-97.

Jayson Tatum scored a career-high 53 points including 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 145-136.

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)CHICAGO – The leadership of the National Basketball Coaches Association spoke out Wednesday about its “concern and level of disappointment” with the way the Minnesota Timberwolves went about their coaching change earlier this week. The statement came from NBCA president Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks and NBCA executive director David Fogel. Ad“There were other candidates, minority candidates we considered at this time,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said. “During this past offseason, we saw many NBA head coaching vacancies where teams led searches that were both diverse and transparent,” Fogel and Carlisle wrote in their statement.

FILE - This Dec. 15, 2011, file photo shows Houston Rockets assistant coach Chris Finch during an NBA basketball media day in Houston. Chris Finch is the new coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team announced Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, after dismissing Ryan Saunders the previous night. The team quickly hired Finch, who was in his first season as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors. Finch replaced Ryan Saunders, who was fired Sunday night after Minnesota lost at New York and fell to a league-worst 7-24. “I think we can breathe some confidence back into the roster,” Finch said, "and these guys can maybe find some joy.”___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

(AP Photo/Darren Abate)Tuesday’s game between San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons has been postponed, marking the second time this month that the NBA has called off a game because of coronavirus-related issues. The NBA does not announce the names of players who test positive; some have revealed positive tests on their own. Being ruled out because of the protocols can suggest any number of things, including a positive test, a suspected positive test or contact-tracing data showing that a player may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19. AdThe only other game called off this month for a virus-related issue was on Feb. 1, also involving the Pistons — Detroit's night game at Denver was postponed because of contact tracing issues involving the Pistons. Miami’s Tyler Herro missed a game last week because of a suspected positive test; subsequent tests showed he was fine and he was permitted to return to the Heat lineup after the one-game absence.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)NEW YORK – The NBA said one player tested positive for coronavirus in the past week, meaning only two have gotten that diagnosis in the last three weeks. The total for the season in the NBA is up to 92, but of those, 48 — or 52% — tested positive in November, before training camps officially opened. The NBA reported one positive test for the weekly period ending Jan. 26, and no positive tests for the period ending Feb. 3. Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns — who has missed 13 games — tested positive last month and his recovery is nearly complete. The NBA does not reveal which players test positive for COVID-19, but Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton said earlier this week that Bucks guard Jrue Holiday tested positive for the virus.

(AP Photo/Darren Abate)No additional NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week, the league said Wednesday, after nearly two dozen games had to be called off in the past month because of virus-related issues. That continued a good two-week trend: After 27 players were positive in results released between Jan. 6 and Jan. 19, only one player has been positive since. We all need it, not just NBA players, coaches, families. The planet needs it.”The NBA has called off 23 games this season for virus issues, 22 since Jan. 10. But it’s important to have weeks like this, because it gives everybody hope.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) shoots against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Washington Wizards are finally back. The Grizzlies won’t play until at least Saturday, after the NBA called off yet another game -- the 20th since Jan. 10 and the 21st postponement this season. Those were called off late last week and now, the Grizzlies’ home game against Chicago that was scheduled for Wednesday is off as well. In all, 23 teams have seen at least one game called off so far this season.

Memphis Grizzlies Taylor Jenkins holds the play board during a timeout in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Minneapolis. By NBA rule, teams must have eight eligible players for games; the Grizzlies would not meet that threshold because of “ongoing contact tracing,” the league said. Players, the NBA reminded Wednesday, must limit their interactions to elbow bumps and fist bumps. Portland is the 20th NBA team to have at least one game called off in the last two weeks. Memphis had its game at Minnesota last Friday called off after Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19.

The earliest Washington will play now is Sunday in San Antonio — 13 days after the Wizards' most recent game. The Wizards didn't expect to have more than eight available on Friday because of a combination of the virus and injuries. Players, the NBA reminded Wednesday, may elbow-bump and fist-bump, but hugs and handshakes are not permitted. Memphis had its game at Minnesota last Friday called off after Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19. Towns and Ricky Rubio were among the Timberwolves still sidelined by the league's virus protocols Wednesday for a game against Orlando.

(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Another NBA game was called off Sunday because of coronavirus concerns, and the Memphis Grizzlies said center Jonas Valanciunas will not play Monday because of the league’s health and safety protocols. The 76ers played in Memphis on Saturday night, losing 106-104 in a game where Valanciunas played 20 minutes. He was pulled at halftime of Memphis’ game against Brooklyn on Jan. 8 because of some sort of virus-related issue, but was back on the court for the Grizzlies’ next game Jan. 11 against Cleveland. Minnesota, which had a game Friday called off after Karl-Anthony Towns revealed he tested positive, is scheduled to play Monday in Atlanta. Cleveland’s game in Washington on Sunday also was called off, as was the planned rematch between the clubs on Monday.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns were both ejected after getting into a brawl during a game at the Wells Fargo Center, but the fighting didn't stop there. Towns, who's nickname is "KAT," responded with photos of him fighting Embiid and one snapshot of the star crying after losing in the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors. Joel Embiid fights with Karl-Anthony Towns in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid managed to take Towns to the ground, where he jammed his thumb into Towns' eye. Officials ejected Embiid and Towns from the game after they ruled it a fight.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns were both suspended two games on following their fight at the Wells Fargo Center, the NBA announced Friday. The stars were "suspended two games without pay for their roles in an on-court altercation and for their continued escalation following the incident," the league said in a statement. Joel Embiid fights with Karl-Anthony Towns in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid managed to take Towns to the ground, where he jammed his thumb into Towns' eye. Officials ejected Embiid and Towns from the game after they ruled the altercation a fight.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the first person picked in the NBA's 2015 draft and is headed to join the Minnesota Timberwolves. He spoke to CBSN's Vladimir Duthiers about his expectations.