Anthony Edwards Expected To Play In Game 1 Against Spurs For Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards is set to return far earlier than first feared, with the Minnesota Timberwolves star expected to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-final against the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs on Monday, just nine days after a left knee injury in the first round.

The guard has received full medical clearance and will complete a normal pre-game warm-up with the aim of playing, after being a major part of the Timberwolves’ shootaround on Monday morning, and the plan represents a clear shift from earlier internal expectations of a longer absence.

Edwards hurt the left knee in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, a 112-96 win that pushed Minnesota ahead 3-1, and testing the following day showed a bone bruise but no ligament damage, yet medical staff still anticipated a lay-off that could reach the middle of the conference semi-final if the Timberwolves progressed.

Reporting from Shams Charania, carried by ESPN, indicated that the Minnesota Timberwolves had originally planned for Anthony Edwards to come back later in the San Antonio Spurs series, but the medical update and strong response in practice sessions changed that timetable, limiting the actual absence to two games.

Minnesota completed the job against Denver in six games to reach the Western Conference semi-final, and the brief rest period between rounds then became crucial for Anthony Edwards, as treatment focused on easing the bone bruise symptoms and confirming the stability of the left knee under game-like movements.

A four-time All-Star, Anthony Edwards finished the regular season ranked third in NBA scoring and produced a personal-best average of 28.8 points, while also shooting 48.9 per cent from the field and contributing 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.4 made three-pointers per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have already seen Anthony Edwards score heavily against the San Antonio Spurs this season, as the guard delivered a career-high 55 points in a 126-123 defeat in San Antonio on 17 January, which stands as Minnesota’s lone loss in three regular-season meetings with the Spurs.

With Anthony Edwards now cleared for Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves enter the Western Conference semi-final with their leading scorer available despite the recent knee issue, and the combination of strong medical reports and previous success against this opponent shapes the context for the opening contest.