Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards may make a surprisingly quick comeback as the team has upgraded his status to questionable for Monday’s Western Conference semifinal opener against the San Antonio Spurs.
The talented guard was initially expected to miss multiple weeks and was presumed unavailable for the series opener, but Sunday’s injury report revealed his potential availability for the crucial playoff matchup.
Edwards sustained a hyperextended left knee along with bone bruising after an awkward fall during Minnesota’s April 25 Game 4 win against the Denver Nuggets in their first-round series. Medical examinations revealed no ligament damage, though he was sidelined for the remainder of that playoff round.
Now, just over a week later, the Timberwolves have given Edwards the green light to resume basketball activities. According to ESPN, the organization originally planned for his return during Games 3 or 4 of the seven-game series versus San Antonio, but his recovery timeline appears accelerated.
The 24-year-old Edwards shared a YouTube video Sunday displaying his rehabilitation progress, including footage of him working out on an underwater treadmill alongside David Hines, Minnesota’s vice president of medical performance.
In the video, Hines explained, “I think he can return sooner if he can hit all his metrics for pain management, mobility, functional strength.”
The four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA honoree achieved career-best numbers during the regular season, averaging 28.8 points per game while shooting 48.9% from the field and 39.9% from beyond the arc across 61 games. During the Denver series, he contributed 18.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game over four appearances.
Additionally, Ayo Dosunmu faces uncertainty for the opener due to right calf discomfort. Dosunmu, who topped Minnesota’s scoring during the Denver matchup with 21.8 points per game and exploded for 43 points in Game 4, sat out the series-clinching Game 6 victory because of the injury.
