Anthony Edwards injury update: Timberwolves star's status for Game 1 vs. Spurs revealed

Anthony Edwards wasn’t supposed to be ready. Not this soon, anyway. After suffering a hyperextended knee and bone bruise in the first round against the Denver Nuggets, the expectation was clear: Edwards would miss time. Potentially multiple games. Maybe even most of the next series.

Instead, nine days later, he’s back. According to Shams Charania, Edwards is expected to play in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, barring any setback during pregame warmups. It’s a stunning turnaround for a player who, just days ago, was considered unlikely to return until the middle of the series.

Yet, here he is. Back with the Timberwolves when they need him most. Edwards’ injury came at a brutal time, with Minnesota just taking a 3-1 lead over Denver when he went down, dealing with not only the knee hyperextension but also lingering issues in his other knee. The diagnosis was serious enough to sideline him, but not catastrophic.

Luckily, there was no ligament damage and no structural tear. That opened the door. From there, it became a race against the clock.

Edwards pushed through rehab aggressively, working his way back onto the court for light activity over the weekend. He traveled with the team to San Antonio, signaling optimism internally that a return could come sooner than expected.

Regardless, Game 1 felt ambitious. Even for him. But Edwards has built a reputation on defying timelines. Now, Minnesota gets its star back at the start of a new series instead of scrambling to survive without him. 

That changes everything. This isn’t just any player returning. It’s a player averaging nearly 29 points per game in the postseason who drives the offense and draws the attention of every defense he faces.

Without him, the Timberwolves were thin. Especially after losing Donte DiVincenzo for the postseason with a torn Achilles, leaving a major gap in their backcourt rotation. 

For a brief stretch, Minnesota was staring at the reality of navigating the playoffs without two key contributors. Now, one of them is back. Suddenly, the outlook shifts.

There’s still a risk and uncertainty. And there’s still that final pregame test before Edwards officially takes the floor. But if he’s able to go? Minnesota isn’t just surviving anymore, they’re dangerous again.

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.