Anthony Edwards Feels Deep Void After Nikola Jokic Sends Pinching Reminder Of Karl-Anthony Towns’ Absence

Published 04/11/2024, 7:49 AM EDT

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently faced off against the Denver Nuggets. While the Timberwolves had already qualified for the playoffs through their 55-24 record, the recent matchup would have given them the chance to overthrow the Nuggets, who currently occupy the top seed on the Western Conference chart. Unfortunately, the same proved to be a tough task since the roster was going into the game without the presence of the team’s second-highest scorer Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite the best effort by Anthony Edwards and others, the Nuggets pulled off an impressive offensive play and secured the win through a score of 116-107.

In the aftermath of the game, Anthony Edwards took some time out to speak with certain media members. NBA reporter Dane Moore took to his official X account to highlight bringing up Anthony Towns’ absence when questioning the Ant-Man. The latter talked about the pressure to do well and the opportunities would have been limited by his teammate’s absence since he’s “gonna get 25 points every night”. Plus, his huge stature was always a huge factor that the Timberwolves could utilize when alternating between offense and defense.

“Another 7-footer. Another shooter. Just fu***n everything” said Edwards when answering Moore’s question. “I mean, he can guard Jokic. He’s our best bet when it comes to guarding Jokic. So yeah, we need him,” the player added.

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Asked Anthony Edwards about not having Karl-Anthony Towns in this matchup and where they would have felt his presence if he did play:
"I mean, it would be a lot easier for everyone because he's gonna get 25 points every night. Like, easy. He walks in the gym with 25 points. So…
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) April 11, 2024

The 22-year-old’s comments had come right around the same time that the MVP of the night, Nikola Jokic, was also engaging in a Q & A session. ESPN reporter John Anderson used the opportunity to discuss Jokic’s 41 points and how he managed to attain that feat with defensive players like Rudy Gobert. While it may have come off as unintentional, the reply that Jokic went on to give reminded Timberwolves players and fans of what they were missing out on.

“I think it’s not just him (Gobert), it’s Naz (Reid), it’s…. ok, they missed Kat,” said Jokic. “It’s always interesting game against us and then you see the tactical kind of who’s going to have a better tactic and strategy is going to win the game, and we won it today”. The Denver Nuggets may have had a “better tactic and strategy” working their way, but no one can deny that Anthony Towns’ absence could’ve worked wonders.

But what’s the reason behind Anthony Towns’ absence?

What happened to Karl-Anthony Towns?

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Karl-Anthony Towns had been performing exceptionally during the course of the ongoing regular season. In 60 games, he had secured an average of 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3 assists to his name. Along with Anthony Edwards, he had helped propel the Timberwolves to their current position. However, his streak was cut short back in March after developing a left meniscus injury during a game against the Trail Blazers. After undergoing surgery, the player was ruled out indefinitely until further recovery. He has missed over 18 consecutive games till now, six of which the Timberwolves have lost.

Despite the bleak situation, there have been some improvements lately. Prior to the team’s faceoff against the Washington Wizards, the player was seen at the shootaround practice and seemed to be in high spirits. The same was highlighted by renowned NBA reporter Shams Charania, who made the bold claim: “There is optimism that Karl-Anthony Towns will play before the playoffs start.”

Two more games remain for the Timberwolves in the regular season. While Anthony Edwards may have to carry that extra pressure till then, it will be worth it if he has his brother-in-arms alongside him during the playoffs.

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Written by:

Ashmit is an NBA Content Analyst at EssentiallySports. Having started as a writer, he specializes in writing captivating stories that include the elements of in-depth coverage of teams, players and more. Due to his knowledge of the technicalities of the sport, Ashmit writes perspective pieces that provide well-researched analysis.

Edited by:

Ariva Debnath

Anthony Edwards Feels Deep Void After Nikola Jokic Sends Pinching Reminder Of Karl-Anthony Towns’ Absence

What happened to Karl-Anthony Towns?

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