Timberwolves anticipate Edwards availability for Game 1 against Spurs despite knee injury concerns
Minnesota's Anthony Edwards is expected to suit up for the second-round opener in San Antonio after clearing light work, while teammate Ayo Dosunmu remains sidelined.
League sources indicate that the Minnesota Timberwolves expect star guard Anthony Edwards to participate in Game 1 of their second-round NBA playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs. This assessment holds barring a pregame setback, despite Edwards having hyperextended his left knee and sustained a bone bruise nine days prior to the announcement.
The shift in expectation marks a notable acceleration from earlier team assessments, which had targeted Game 3 as the most realistic initial return date. Edwards, listed as questionable for the match, participated in the team's Monday morning shootaround in San Antonio. During the session, he was observed wearing a knee sleeve and successfully completed a shooting routine that included quick dribble step-backs to test the injured limb.
Teammate Julius Randle publicly praised Edwards' resilience, comparing him to a "Wolverine" and recalling his history of rapid recovery from significant injuries. Randle noted that Edwards has previously returned quickly from nasty falls or hits, a trait that has bolstered the team's confidence in his ability to withstand the rigours of the playoffs.
The San Antonio Spurs, who hold a strong record of 62-20, will face a Wolves squad that is also missing guard Ayo Dosunmu for the contest. Dosunmu is unavailable due to right calf soreness, an issue that previously caused him to miss Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets last week.
Edwards missed the final two games of the first-round series against Denver, yet his teammates successfully closed out that series at home in Game 6. This victory provided the necessary runway for Edwards to push back into the lineup for the challenging date against the Spurs, even as the extent of his participation remains unconfirmed.
While the optimism for an early return is growing, the situation remains fluid. Edwards' participation is contingent on no pregame setback occurring before the game starts, and the team continues to monitor his condition closely ahead of the match.
