Lakers News: All-Star On Possible First Round LA Playoff Rival Out Indefinitely

An unlucky break for his team, a lucky break for Los Angeles?

One of the best players on the club that may quite possibly be your Los Angeles Lakers' opposition in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs (assume they even survive the play-in tournament, no sure thing) may miss the rest of the year with a major new injury.

All-Star Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Karl-Anthony Towns has torn the meniscus in his left knee, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania reports that he's going to be indefinitely shelved.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski seems to be a bit more optimistic, noting that as Towns and the Timberwolves consult various medical experts about the ailment they will determine more of a complete recovery timeline for the sharpshooting big man.

The seven-footer out of Kentucky has missed just two contests for the 43-19 Timberwolves. Across 60 contests for the Western Conference's current No. 1 seed, he's averaging 22.1 points on .506/.423/.874 shooting splits, 8.4 rebounds and three assists a night.

If they hold onto their current ninth seed, the Lakers' best hope would be winning both their play-in contests to nab the eighth seed. Assuming Minnesota (currently neck-and-neck with the Oklahoma City Thunder) keeps the West's top seed in this scenario, the jumbo-sized Timberwolves would indeed be LA's first round opponents. Missing their second-leading scorer would certainly hurt their chances against your Lakers.