Breaking: Karl-Anthony Towns Return More Imminent Than Expected

He's been out for 52 games, but it appears that the long, drawn-out absence of Karl-Anthony Towns is finally coming to an end. 

There is optimism that Minnesota Timberwolves stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards (ankle) could return as soon as Wednesday vs. Atlanta Hawks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Towns, sidelined since Nov. 28 with Grade 3 calf strain, is on the cusp of a major return.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 21, 2023

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, "there is optimism" that Towns could actually return on Wednesday night in the T-Wolves' game vs. the Atlanta Hawks. 

Towns has been out since November 28th with a serious Grade 3 calf strain and tear. The 3-time All-Star said this week that he "hated every moment of" his rehab over the past four months, and that he had a "major setback" in his recovery in January. 

“It was obvious. You have a boot one day, then you’re out of a boot and now you’re back in a boot. That’s a setback,” he said, declining to elaborate. He sounded quite frustrated about the issue. “I think there will be a time and place to talk about that. But not right now.”

Towns said his calf was 95% torn and scoffed at the original report of a four-to-six-week return, calling it "way off".

But all of that rehab, all of that frustration appears to finally be at an end. 

The T-Wolves could actually have Towns and Anthony Edwards—who suffered an ugly-looking sprained ankle this past weekend—back in the lineup tomorrow night.

Photo: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports