Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns was ruled out of Thursday's road game against the Indiana Pacers with left knee soreness.

Towns, who will miss his third game of the season, also sat out Feb. 27 against the San Antonio Spurs for personal reasons. He has averaged 22.1 points with 8.4 rebounds in 60 games, all starts.

Heading into NBA play Wednesday, the Timberwolves were in sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with a half-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder and a one-game lead over the Denver Nuggets.

The Timberwolves also listed Jordan McLaughlin as questionable with an illness.

Minnesota is 8-3 since Feb. 8 and is coming off a 119-114 home victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.