NBA ROUNDUP
Timberwolves’ Towns (knee) could return Friday
Minnesota Timberwolves star big man Karl-Anthony Towns will likely return to action against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday after missing five-plus weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Towns was updated to questionable on Thursday, bolstering his chances of playing against the Hawks.
Towns, 28, last played on March 4 when he injured the knee in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. He was cleared for full contact on Tuesday.
A four-time All-Star, Towns is averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 60 games this season, while shooting a careerhigh 42.3 percent from 3-point range.
The 7-footer has averaged 22.9 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 571 games (all starts) since the Timberwolves drafted him No. 1 overall in 2015.
Hawks’ Johnson (ankle) won’t return in
regular season
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson’s breakout season is over due to a nagging ankle injury.
The team said Thursday that an MRI revealed a Grade 2 lateral sprain of his right ankle. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks.
Johnson, 22, set career highs with 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 56 games (52 starts) in his third season.
Thursday’s game
Knicks Celtics 109: Jalen Brunson tossed in a game-high 39 points to help the visiting Knicks extend their winning streak to three games. New York (48-32) remained in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks (49-31). Jayson Tatum led Boston with 18 points and seven assists. Boston received 15 points from Jaylen Brown and 14 points and eight rebounds from Kristaps Porzingis.