Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (tailbone) and power forward Jaden McDaniels (illness) have both been deemed questionable to play in Friday's game against Brooklyn. Towns took a scary fall during Wednesday's loss to the Wizards, but X-rays of his lower back came back negative. McDaniels has missed each of the past two games due to an illness, with Jarred Vanderbilt holding down the four spot in his absence. If Towns is forced to be held out Friday, Naz Reid would be propelled into near chalk territory in DFS; if there is a multi-game absence for the two-time All-Star, Reid would be worth a short-term stream in all season-long formats. Check back prior to tip-off for the final word on both Towns and McDaniels.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns missed the end of Wednesday's 115-107 loss to Washington after injuring himself on a dunk, but he had a great night overall with a game-high 34 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 11-for-25 from the field and 2-for-4 from outside with a 10-for-11 record at the line. Towns also managed to hand out one assist and register one steal and one block before his unfortunate dunk attempt with 2:14 left to go. He appeared to hurt his tailbone, but he luckily isn't expected to miss any time because of the injury. Minnesota's next game comes on Friday against Brooklyn. It's not a particularly good matchup for Towns, with the Nets having limited opposing centers to 18.8 points and 15.0 rebounds per 48 minutes this season.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns led his team to a 100-98 victory over Indiana on Monday, scoring a game-high 32 points on 13-for-22 shooting. He added eight rebounds to his tally and delivered two assists but also had nine turnovers. The T-Wolves are hot right now and Towns finds himself in the middle of everything. He'll now head into a very favorable spot against the Wizards, who are allowing the eighth-most points per 48 minutes to centers this season. The week finishes off with a much more difficult challenge against the Nets, who have developed into a top-class defensive team.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns got outscored and outrebounded by Joel Embiid on Saturday, but he had a good game as well with 28 points and 10 rebounds and got the last laugh with the Wolves winning 121-120 in double-overtime. KAT shot a very good 11-for-16 from the field and had a nice night from downtown as well with 3-for-5 shooting. He provided one block on the defensive end and actually couldn't play in the extra frames after fouling out. Towns now boasts 10 double-doubles for the season in 20 games. He'll have another big battle on his hands Monday night against Indiana and defensive specialist Myles Turner. The Pacers have limited opposing centers to just 16.6 points per 48 minutes this season, which is the second-lowest mark in the league.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns shot 9-for-16 from the field and 3-for-4 from outside to finish Thursday's 115-90 win over the Spurs with a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds. He also had five assists with two turnovers and recorded one block in 38 minutes on the court. Double-doubles have been rare for KAT in recent outings, but this was a good matchup for him and there's more of them coming up. Minnesota takes on Memphis and New Orleans in the next two games, teams that have struggled against centers this season. They have already played the Grizzlies this month and Towns recorded a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double in the matchup.

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves picked up their fifth win of the season, and star center Karl-Anthony Towns showed up all over the box score. In 37 minutes, KAT contributed 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a three-pointer. While fantasy managers would love to see him grab more than six rebounds, his all-around contributions make up for his usual numbers on the boards. Still, as the Timberwolves try to improve and add more talent, it's undoubtedly affecting Town's numbers. He's on a three-year-long decline in points, rebounds, blocks and shot attempts. Despite the downturn, he's still a top-10 option in nine-category leagues, so it would take an overwhelming trade offer to give him up.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns racked up a season-high 35 points on 10-for-19 shooting with 13 rebounds in Monday's narrow 99-96 loss against the Suns. He finished with 5-for-9 three-point shooting and went 10-for-11 with his free throws while adding two assists and one steal to his line with seven turnovers in 40 minutes. This marks KAT's third 30-point outing of the season and the first since Oct. 25. He made a huge start to the campaign and the whole team looked impressive, but tougher times have followed now. However, Towns should be able to dominate again in the next matchup against the Kings, who struggle to guard centers and give up a league-high 20.7 rebounds per 48 minutes to the position.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge in Friday's 107-83 win over the Lakers, scoring a game-high 29 points on 11-for-17 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. He was 4-for-8 with the three-ball and shot 3-for-3 at the line. All the talk around town has been revolved around Anthony Edwards lately and Towns has taken a backseat, but he proved here that he's still the main man for Minnesota. The Timberwolves need another big performance from him on Saturday against the Clippers. Towns couldn't get a lot done in his first two outings in the matchup earlier in the month, averaging only 19 points with 9.5 rebounds.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his second straight double-double in Wednesday's loss to Golden State. Towns struggled to knock down two-pointers but excelled from beyond the arc, connecting on 5 of 10 attempts en route to 17 points, adding 12 boards. The star center also chipped in four assists and two steals while committing zero turnovers in 38 minutes of action. Towns' versatility- he ranks in the top-25 in points, rebounds, three-pointers made, blocks, and steals per game- lends itself well to both roto and points formats alike.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his third double-double in four games on Monday, finishing a 125-118 overtime loss to Memphis with 25 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. This could've been a huge game for KAT with better efficiency, as he shot only 9-for-20 from the field and 3-for-9 from downtown. Towns' line included three assists and one steal with two blocks and five turnovers in 43 minutes. His shooting has been all over the place early in the season, so another below-par performance wasn't surprising. Hopefully, he will start improving his consistency soon. On paper, Towns shouldn't have any efficiency issues in the next matchup on Wednesday against the Warriors. Opposing centers are shooting 54.2 percent from the field against Golden State this season.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns rebounded from a poor offensive night in his last outing in Monday's loss to the Magic. Towns uncharacteristically struggled from the free-throw line but was otherwise brilliant, scoring 23 points, with a season-high 16 rebounds, six assists, four triples, and a pair of steals in 37 minutes. The rebounds were nice to see, as the star center is on-pace for a career-low in that category, though there hasn't been much else to complain about regarding Towns' production this year. He'll take averages of 24.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.3 triples, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game into Wednesday's favorable matchup against the Clippers.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns did a little bit of everything in Monday's loss to the Pelicans. Towns poured in a season-high 32 points with 14 rebounds, seven assists, four three-pointers, two blocks, and two steals in 40 minutes. The star center shot just 41.7 percent from the field but made up for it by sinking all eight free throws, leaving him a perfect 15-for-15 from the charity stripe this year. Before the season, head coach Chris Finch said that he wanted to run the offense through Towns, who owns a monster 38.8 percent usage rate while putting up a career-high 19.7 shots per game through three contests. If that holds up and Towns stays healthy, he could finish as the top fantasy basketball performer, thanks to his improved defensive contributions and massive offensive role.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns appeared on track for a massive scoring performance in Saturday's win over New Orleans, but then foul trouble struck. Towns dropped 15 points in the first quarter alone, but he eventually fouled out of the game, limiting his production to 25 points in 29 minutes. All was not for naught: the T'Wolves' big man added four boards, three blocks, three made triples and two assists to his stat line. With fouls rearing their head, Naz Reid saw an elevated offensive role off the bench, getting up 12 shots in just 19 minutes of action. Towns will look to corral Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas in a rematch Monday.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns made light work of the Houston Rockets in the team's season opener on Wednesday, collecting 30 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes in a blowout win. He added a pair of assists, two steals and two blocks to his line with three turnovers, shooting 11-for-15 from the field and 3-for-4 from outside. Towns didn't miss a single free throw with five attempts. KAT is a big problem for every team with his ability to score inside and out. He's become more consistent with each season in the league and looks set for a big campaign in 2021-22. Towns will battle with Jonas Valanciunas and the Pelicans next during a back-to-back set.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — More than a year after acquiring D'Angelo Russell as the pick-and-roll initiator for pal Karl-Anthony Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally closed this season with a full month of games that both halves of their star pairing were available to play in. Their biggest takeaway from the longest stretch of time Towns and Russell have had together on the floor was that they're actually only two parts of what has quickly become a formidable trio. Anthony Edwards filled his audition for the NBA Rookie of the Year award with high-flying dunks, timely 3-pointers and wide smiles, leaving the Timberwolves with no regret about making him the first overall pick in the draft. Towns and Russell will have to make room. “They help me tremendously, because they can space the floor, so it makes it easier to get downhill," said Edwards, who led all first-year players in scoring at 19.3 points per game at age 19. "Because I’m so dynamic going downhill, it opens the '3' up for them. Like,... [More]

2021 — Domantas Sabonis, Indiana 2020 — Bam Adebayo, Miami 2019 — Jayson Tatum, Boston 2018 — Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn 2017 — Kristaps Porzingis, New York 2016 — Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota 2015 — Patrick Beverley, Houston 2014 — Trey Burke, Utah; Damian Lillard, Portland-x 2013 — Damian Lillard, Portland 2012 — Tony Parker, San Antonio 2011 — Stephen Curry, Golden State 2010 — Steve Nash, Phoenix 2009 — Derrick Rose, Chicago 2008 — Deron Williams, Utah 2007 — Dwyane Wade, Miami 2006 — Dwyane Wade, Miami 2005 — Steve Nash, Phoenix 2004 — Baron Davis, New Orleans 2003 — Jason Kidd, New Jersey Note: x-format changed to a two-man relay.

CHICAGO (AP) — 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. “The NBCA understands and respects each organization’s right to hire and fire whomever and whenever it chooses,” said their statement, first released only to ESPN before being distributed to other outlets. “But it is also our responsibility to point out when an organization fails to conduct a thorough and transparent search of candidates from a wide range of diverse backgrounds.” The Timberwolves fired Ryan Saunders on Sunday night and struck a deal to hire Toronto assistant Chris Finch almost immediately. Finch was formally announced as the coach Monday morning. “There were other candidates, minority candidates we considered at this time,”... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When the Minnesota Timberwolves decided again to change coaches, president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas turned to one of the candidates he interviewed during the last search. The dossier on Chris Finch was still fresh. The last round of this came less than two years ago. “I think the near-misses motivated me even more. Everything happens for a reason. This is a place I really want to be. This is place I wanted to be in 2019,” said Finch, who was introduced Monday as the 14th coach of the Timberwolves in 32 seasons after less than three months as an assistant for 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. “We had a group that was able to build leads. We didn’t have a group that was able to finish games, and that’s something that became very concerning over the last two weeks,” Rosas said. Not only did the 51-year-old Finch recently interview for the position,... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For the 10th time in the past 15 years, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a new head coach. Toronto assistant Chris Finch was introduced Monday as the replacement for Ryan Saunders, who was fired the night before with the team carrying the NBA’s worst record. “We have excellent pieces in place, and I can’t wait to get to work," Finch said in a statement distributed by the Timberwolves, before he was scheduled to meet the team in Milwaukee prior to playing there Tuesday. President of basketball operations Gersson Rosas made the change on the bench to the 51-year-old Finch, who was in his first season with the Raptors. They worked together in Houston, where Finch was an assistant (2011-16) and Rosas was a basketball operations executive. “He is one of the most creative basketball minds in the NBA, has success maximizing players, and I am excited to see him bring our team to the next level and beyond,” Rosas said. Finch has 24 years of coaching experience, roughly half of... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday finalized the hiring of Toronto assistant Chris Finch as their new head coach, hours after firing Ryan Saunders with the team carrying the NBA’s worst record. President of basketball operations Gersson Rosas made the change on the bench to the 51-year-old Finch, who was in his first season with the Raptors. They worked together in Houston, where Finch was an assistant (2011-16) and Rosas was a basketball operations executive. “He is one of the most creative basketball minds in the NBA, has success maximizing players, and I am excited to see him bring our team to the next level and beyond,” Rosas said in a statement distributed by the Timberwolves. Finch has 24 years of coaching experience, roughly half of that in Europe. The two-time NCAA Division III All-American at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania played for the Sheffield Sharks in the British Basketball League and later coached the same team from 1997-2003. Finch... [More]