The Timberwolves won’t have Anthony Edwards to start their second-round series. But this may not be a long wait.
There’s growing optimism Edwards could return sometime in the coming week — potentially as early as Game 3 or 4 against the Spurs — according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
That’s sooner than some expected.
Edwards suffered a bone bruise after hyperextending his left knee in Game 4 of the first round. Since then, though, the signs have been encouraging. He went through light on-court work Saturday, followed it up Sunday, and is traveling with the team to San Antonio.
Minnesota is still being careful. And for good reason. Edwards has also been dealing with inflammation in his right knee for about a month. But if you know anything about him, you know he doesn’t exactly take the slow road back.
He’s pushing. In a video posted to his YouTube page, Timberwolves VP of medical performance David Hines said the initial recovery timeline was one to two weeks.
“I think he can return sooner if he can hit all his metrics for pain management, mobility, functional strength,” Hines said.
That timeline lines up with the schedule. Game 3 falls Friday. Game 4 is Sunday, or right around that two-week mark.
And here’s the thing: The Wolves are still alive without him.
Minnesota closed out Denver in Game 6 at home, showing some real grit. But now comes a bigger challenge. The 62-win Spurs are waiting, and the Wolves will likely need their star sooner rather than later.
If Edwards is ready, he’ll be out there. That much feels pretty clear.
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