The Minnesota Timberwolves survived and advanced past the Denver Nuggets despite Anthony Edwards missing two-plus games of their first-round playoff series with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Up next is a second-round playoff matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in which the Timberwolves are expected to need Edwards to have a reasonable chance of pulling off an upset. Per a report on Sunday, there’s a chance Edwards could return to the Timberwolves’ lineup when the series shifts back to Minnesota.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on “NBA Tip-Off” that Edwards traveled with the team to San Antonio, where the series will tip off with Game 1 Monday. Edwards has returned to light workouts, but isn’t expected to play in Games 1 or 2, per the report.
But Charania reports Edwards is “hopeful that he could push to be back in the lineup potentially for Game 3 or Game 4 at the earliest.” Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in Minnesota. Game 4 will take place next Sunday.
Charania also noted “Minnesota is going to be conservative” in bringing Edwards back due in part to inflammation in his right knee that sidelined him for the stretch run of the regular season.
But the prospect of Edwards returning in time to impact the series is certainly good news for the Timberwolves, especially considering the initial scare around his injury. Edwards hyperextended his left knee in Game 4, prompting initial fears that he’d sustained a long-term injury.
The bone bruise sidelined him for Games 5 and 6 as the Timberwolves closed out the series, but he avoided more serious ligament damage. And now, with a spot in the Western Conference finals at stake, there’s hope in Minnesota that Edwards could return against the Spurs.
Edwards made his fourth straight All-Star team this season and averaged a career-high 28.8 points, alongside 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He also posted career highs while shooting 48.9% from the field and 39.9% on 8.4 3-point attempts per game.
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