The second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs is set to tip off, and a huge injury is looming over the Timberwolves-Spurs series.
Minnesota’s All-Star guard Anthony Edwards has been dealing with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise that he suffered in Game 4 of the first round, missing the final two games of that series against the Nuggets.
Despite that, and the ruptured Achilles tendon injury Donte DiVincenzo suffered, also in Game 4, the Timberwolves closed out Denver in six games.
Here’s everything you need to know about Anthony Edwards’ injury status headed into Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs:
Is Anthony Edwards playing tonight vs. Spurs?
It’s still unclear, but the Timberwolves did get some significantly positive updates ahead of the game.
On Sunday, May 3, the Timberwolves announced that Edwards had been cleared for on-court basketball activities and indicated that Edwards would be listed as questionable on the injury report for Game 1 against the Spurs.
And when that first injury report was published, Minnesota indeed had listed him as questionable.
Still, that doesn’t mean that Edwards will play Monday night, and he presumably still needs to clear several hurdles to be activated. And, even if Edwards can’t go Monday night, this is a massively good sign for his eventual availability in the series.
If Edwards misses only two games with the issue, it will be a remarkably quick recovery for this type of injury.
On Dec. 29, Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokić similarly sustained a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise in a loss against the Miami Heat. To recover from that injury, Jokić missed 16 games, which covered the span of a month.
Anthony Edwards injury
The injury ocurred with 2:45 left in the first half, when Edwards jumped vertically to defend a Cameron Johnson layup during a fastbreak drive. When Edwards landed, his left knee appeared to hyperextend as his weight came down, and he immediately grabbed at the area, writhing in apparent discomfort. Edwards slapped the court a few times in obvious frustration.
Athletic trainers rushed over as Edwards popped up to his feet. The trainers helped Edwards hobble off the floor, as he did not put any weight on the injured leg.
The trainers helped him toward the tunnel, though they didn’t immediately usher Edwards to the locker room, momentarily examining him in the tunnel.
Anthony Edwards stats
In 61 games this season, Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points (which ranked third in the NBA behind only Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage (48.9%) and 3-point percentage (39.9%) were also career bests.
In February, he was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Edwards injury update: T-wolves stars’ availability vs. Spurs
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