Timberwolves will eat with KAT out

But will they screen?

Thursday’s win identifies the pull and promise for our hobbled Minnesota Timberwolves, as the 44-19 club seeks navigation through its final 19 regular season games without 7-foot forward Karl-Anthony Towns, lost indefinitely to a meniscus tear.

Whether the Timberwolves decide to play KAT, shelve KAT, trim KAT or cut KAT’s meniscus wasn’t the point, Minnesota will either work with no KAT or a gimpy KAT through at least the first round of the playoffs, the most important postseason Minnesota’s earned in two decades.

Cruel timing, but Minnesota prepared itself for this snip the best it could. Not only do the Timberwolves feature Rudy Gobert in the pivot but there is also Naz Reid, the best backup big the NBA’s seen in a few tree rings. And these Timberwolves boast Anthony Edwards, the prospect Minnesota chose above all others available in an entire NBA draft.

Yet if Edwards’ outburst in Indianapolis is the blinking indicator, Minnesota’s path to May isn’t greased, because these shots are tough: