The Minnesota Timberwolves may be getting their franchise star, Anthony Edwards, back sooner rather than later.
After advancing past the Denver Nuggets without Edwards for multiple games, Minnesota now turns its attention to a second-round clash with the San Antonio Spurs, and the potential return of its leading scorer could shift the entire series.
Edwards has already taken a step forward in his recovery and remains in the mix to rejoin the lineup once the series moves back to Minnesota.
“Edwards traveled with the team to San Antonio, where the series will tip off with Game 1 Monday,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “Edwards has returned to light workouts, but isn’t expected to play in Games 1 or 2.”
While that rules him out for the opening stretch, there is growing optimism about a return shortly after.
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in Minnesota, with Game 4 set for next Sunday, giving Edwards additional time to ramp up his workload after being cleared for on-court activities.
Despite that progress, the Timberwolves are expected to remain cautious.
“Minnesota is going to be conservative” in bringing Edwards back, Charania noted, pointing to lingering inflammation in his right knee that had already caused issues late in the regular season.
The injury scare initially came in Game 4 of the first-round series, when Edwards hyperextended his left knee. What followed was immediate concern about a potentially serious setback, but the diagnosis of a bone bruise ultimately proved far less damaging than feared.
Minnesota managed to close out the series without him, but the challenge ahead is significantly steeper. A matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs raises the stakes, with a Western Conference Finals berth on the line.
Edwards’ absence has been manageable so far, but his production, nearly 29 points per game on elite efficiency this season, is not easily replaced.
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