Minnesota Timberwolves star center Karl-Anthony Towns will miss tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, the team announced, as his family holds a memorial to honor his late mother Jacqueline.
The memorial will mark the one-year anniversary of her death from COVID-19, which occurs on April 13.
The Timberwolves honored Jacqueline by reserving a seat for her before the team’s game against the Chicago Bulls on April 11.
“Her light made the world a brighter and better place,” the Timberwolves posted.
Following the Timberwolves’ 121-117 win over the Bulls, Towns, his father Karl Sr. and former teammate and friend Zach LaVine shared a moment.
March 29 was the first time that Towns finally got to play in front of family since his mother’s death.
The 25-year-old opened up about that experience.
“It was really the first time having family watch me playing in person,” Towns said, per ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “And it’s crazy seeing my dad. I’m like, ‘Where’s my mom? She’s gonna come.’ And, obviously, she’s not gonna show up. That affected me, but I go out there and play the best I can for this team.”
Towns lost seven family members to COVID-19 and also battled the virus himself earlier in the season.
