MINNEAPOLIS -- Injured star Karl-Anthony Towns is expected to return to action "in the coming weeks," the Minnesota Timberwolves announced Wednesday.

Minnesota's game against Boston on Wednesday night marks the 49th consecutive game missed by the three-time All-Star big man with a severely strained right calf muscle.

Towns suffered the injury Nov. 28 in a game at Washington. He recently began ramping up his on-court basketball activity, but there are only 3½ weeks remaining in the regular season with the Timberwolves in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

In their statement, the Timberwolves said further updates would be "provided when available" but announced no specifics.