Anthony Edwards Injury Timeline: Timberwolves Share Encouraging Update Ahead of Game 1

The Timberwolves took care of business on Thursday night to knock out the Nuggets in Game 6 and advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs, where they’re set to face off against the No. 2-seeded Spurs.

As Minnesota prepares to battle another Western Conference juggernaut, they may be short-handed with star Anthony Edwards still recovering from a bone bruise he suffered in Game 4’s win vs. the Nuggets. Edwards jumped up for a block but landed awkwardly and appeared to hyperextend his left knee; he was helped off the court into the locker room and later was ruled out for the rest of the contest.

Edwards luckily avoided any ligament damage, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, but was set to miss “multiple weeks” as of April 26.

Following Minnesota’s underdog elimination of the Nuggets, when could the Timberwolves star return for the second-round series against the Spurs? Let’s take a look.

Anthony Edwards will be listed as questionable for Game 1, after reports that he wasn’t expected to start the series

On Friday, May 1, Charania provided a new update on Edwards’s status. As expected, Edwards is set to miss the start of the Timberwolves’ series vs. the Spurs as he continues to nurse his left knee injury.

“Certainly the hope [is he’ll return] as the series goes on, but I’m told Anthony Edwards will be out to start the second-round series,” Charania said on Get Up. “It starts early next week. That’s just over one week since the injury. This is a multi-week, minimum two-week injury. So you’re looking at at least a few games before you hope [he comes back].”

However, a Sunday evening injury report from Minnesota indicates that Edwards may have an outside shot to return for Monday’s Game 1 against the Spurs, as he’s been cleared for on-court activities. He is officially listed as questionable for the game.

Here’s a preview of the Timberwolves-Spurs series schedule, with Game 1 set to tip off on Monday night:

Game 1 @ San Antonio: Monday, May 4
Game 2 @ San Antonio: Wednesday, May 6
Game 3 @ Minnesota: Friday, May 8
Game 4 @ Minnesota: Sunday, May 10
Game 5 @ San Antonio (if necessary): Tuesday, May 12
Game 6 @ Minnesota (if necessary): Friday, May 15
Game 7 @ San Antonio (if necessary): Sunday, May 17

Following the original two-week recovery timeline, the soonest Edwards was expected back was Game 4 vs. the Spurs on May 10. However, even if the Timberwolves find themselves in an early series hole against the Spurs, the team probably won’t want to rush him back given his importance to the franchise.

Yet, it goes without saying that Minnesota will need their four-time All-Star to have a fighting chance to upset DPOY Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, who rolled over the Trail Blazers in five games in their first-round series. The Timberwolves will also be missing Donte DiVicenzo after he tore his right Achilles against the Nuggets. Ayo Dosunmu, Minnesota’s unlikely hero in Game 4’s victory vs. Denver, didn’t play in Game 6’s series-clinching win due to a calf injury but could optimistically return in time for Monday’s series opener against San Antonio.

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