Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns will undergo surgery to repair a torn left meniscus and is expected to be back by early in the Western Conference playoffs, sources told ESPN on Thursday night.

Towns will be re-evaluated in four weeks, but the procedure is expected to give him the opportunity to return sometime in the early part of the postseason, sources said. The Timberwolves (44-19) are fighting for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, holding onto a half-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Towns will undergo the surgery early next week.

Towns conferred with team doctors and specialists on a course of action once an MRI discovered the tear in recent days, and committed to the immediate procedure because it gives him a chance to rehab and get back to the team for what's turning into the best regular season in franchise history.

Towns, who made his fourth All-Star Game in 2024, is one of five players in the NBA averaging 20 points, 50% shooting and 40% on 3-pointers, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Timberwolves have a 116.5 offensive efficiency with Towns on the floor -- and 106.1 without him, per Stats & Info.

The Timberwolves have a deep frontline, and Naz Reid will see increased minutes in Towns' absence.