Towns out 4-6 weeks with calf strain

Timberwolves All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns will miss four to six weeks with a strained right calf muscle, ESPN reported. Towns was hurt midway through the third quarter Monday night in the Timberwolves’ 142-127 road loss to the Wizards. He was helped off the court and unable to put weight on his leg. The Timberwolves announced Tuesday that an MRI exam confirmed the injury that will sideline him indefinitely. The team said Towns would be “reassessed in several weeks.” Towns is averaging 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 21 games with 50.5% shooting from the field. After playing in all 82 games in his first three seasons in the league, the 27-year-old Towns has missed significant time to injuries and illnesses since then. Newcomer Rudy Gobert has taken over at center with the three-time All-Star Towns sliding to the power forward spot when they’re on the court together. Coach Chris Finch wasn’t ready to publicly assess his lineup options Monday after the game. The Timberwolves host the Grizzlies on Wednesday night.