Towns helped off with noncontact calf strain in loss to Wizards

Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns left Monday's 142-127 loss to the Washington Wizards in the third quarter after suffering a noncontact leg injury.

The team announced Towns wouldn't return due to a right calf strain.

Towns will get an MRI on Tuesday, but there is optimism that he avoided serious injury, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"Hopefully that’s where it comes down,” coach Chris Finch said about the calf strain assessment, according to The Associated Press. "We’ll have it evaluated tomorrow.”

The 27-year-old went down with the injury at the 5:25 mark of the third quarter and was unable to put pressure on his leg, needing to be helped off the floor.

“We’re going to have to look at what our options are with who else is available at that point," Finch said. "We’ll just have to figure that out."

Towns had eight points, two rebounds, and four assists before exiting the contest. The three-time All-Star is averaging 21.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists this term on the heels of a second-career All NBA season.