Minnesota Timberwolves heart Karl-Anthony Cities is slated to return to the lineup for Sunday’s regular-season finale this weekend in opposition to the Phoenix Suns, based on ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wojnarowski mentioned that Cities “isn’t planning to play” in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, “however a return on the weekend in opposition to Atlanta or Phoenix looms doable.” The latter matchup is extra possible.
Per a couple of NBA betting websites, the Wolves maintain sixth-shortest odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are exhibiting higher odds for the Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Cities isn’t planning to play vs. the Denver Nuggets tonight on ESPN in a showdown for first-place within the West, however a return on the weekend in opposition to Atlanta or Phoenix looms doable, sources inform ESPN. He’s been out since March 4 with a meniscus harm.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2024
Cities, 28, was cleared for full-contact, five-on-five basketball actions on Tuesday. The four-time All-Star has been out since March 4 and underwent surgical procedure for a meniscus tear in his left knee 4 weeks in the past.
The Timberwolves go to the Nuggets in a sport that would determine the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention on Wednesday, then host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and the Suns on Sunday.
Minnesota has gone 11-5 since Cities’ harm. By 60 video games (all begins), the 7-footer has averaged 22.1 factors, 8.4 rebounds, and three.0 assists whereas taking pictures 50.6% from the sphere and a career-best 42.3% from 3-point vary.
Anthony Edwards scored a career-high 51 factors within the Timberwolves’ 130-121 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night time. It was the Wolves’ eighth 50-point sport in franchise historical past.
Karl-Anthony Cities set a brand new Minnesota Timberwolves franchise document with a career-high 62 factors
Moreover, in Minnesota’s 128-125 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 22, Cities set a brand new Timberwolves franchise document in scoring with a career-high 62 factors.
Not solely did Cities document 44 factors within the first half, probably the most in any first half within the play-by-play period (since 1996-97), however he additionally grew to become the primary heart in NBA historical past to make 10 3-pointers in a sport.
The NBA document for factors in a primary half is shared by David Thompson and George Gervin with 53. Cities, 28, now owns the top-three scoring data within the Wolves’ 35-year historical past.
KAT has 10 threes thus far tonight, probably the most ever by a middle!#NBA | #RaisedByWolves pic.twitter.com/kE2mqfFwaH
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) January 23, 2024
Cities’ earlier profession greatest was a Timberwolves-record 60 factors, which was set in Minnesota’s 149-139 win over the San Antonio Spurs on March 14, 2022.
Moreover, Cities handed 5 gamers on the NBA’s all-time checklist for many 3-pointers made in a single sport by a middle — Aron Baynes (9 vs. Path Blazers on March 6, 2020), Channing Frye (9 vs. Timberwolves on April 11, 2011), Brook Lopez (8 vs. Nuggets on Nov. 11, 2018), Myles Turner (8 vs. Celtics on Feb. 23, 2023), and Mo Bamba (7 vs. 76ers on Jan. 19, 2022).
KAT additionally grew to become the fifth participant within the final 30 years to attain at the least 60 factors in a loss.
The nine-year veteran joined Bradley Beal (60 factors vs. 76ers on Jan. 6, 2021), Damian Lillard (60 factors vs. Nets on Nov. 8, 2019), Kemba Walker (60 factors vs. Sixers on Nov. 17, 2018), Devin Booker (70 factors vs. Celtics on March 24, 2017), and Michael Jordan (64 factors vs. Magic on Jan. 16, 1993).
When wholesome, Karl-Anthony Cities makes the Timberwolves a greater playoff contender.
