While the Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t started the season looking like the only team in the NBA that has made back-to-back Conference Finals appearances, much of that has been due to superstar Anthony Edwards missing time with a hamstring injury.
Edwards has played in only three games so far after suffering a hamstring strain against the Indiana Pacers on October 26. A few days ago, it was announced that the star guard had returned to on-court action, and now, he is listed as questionable for the Timberwolves’ game against the New York Knicks.
Most recently, Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported Edwards went through shootaround, which, while a good sign for his status, means he remains iffy to play.
“Anthony Edwards didn’t speak to the media but appeared to go through a full shootaround ahead of tonight’s game at MSG against the Knicks,” Bontemps wrote in a post on X. “Edwards was upgraded to questionable yesterday and has been out for the last four games since hurting his hamstring against IND on Oct. 26.”
In those three games he has played, Edwards has averaged 25.7 points, four rebounds, and two assists on 51.9% shooting. He’s never played fewer than 72 regular-season games in his career, so the injury has been notable for a player who has been very healthy in his first five seasons in the league.
Anthony Edwards Questionable Vs. Knicks
Edwards has been the heart and soul of the Timberwolves since he was drafted first overall in 2020. Since then, he’s led the team to four straight playoff appearances and two conference finals appearances. While he’s missed time to begin the season, Edwards remains the biggest factor for the Timberwolves’ success in the West.
However, Edwards does appear to be ramping up for a return. Days ago, it was announced he had returned to on-court activities after about a week off, and now, he is even closer to a return.
“Edwards remains questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Knicks, but he was a full participant Wednesday morning and continues to trend in the right direction,” CBS Sports Rotowire staff wrote. “If he does get the green light, Edwards may have some limitations.”
Though there could be some limitations in his first game back, as seen in the past, Edwards will likely still have control of the offense. Julius Randle has picked up the scoring responsibility in his wake, but the team has gone 2-2 in that span, though with respectable losses to the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Regardless, with Edwards even having a chance at a return in New York, it bodes well for Minnesota.
“Anthony Edwards practiced today with the Timberwolves,” John Krawczynski from The Athletic reported on November 4. “Chris Finch said he ‘is progressing well‘ from the hamstring injury. When asked if he could play tomorrow vs the Knicks, Finch said ‘I wouldn’t be able to say at this stage. I have no idea.‘ That wasn’t a no.”
Minnesota Timberwolves To Begin The NBA Season
With Edwards missing more than half of the team’s games through the first two weeks of the season, it has been Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid picking up the slack.
Randle’s 27 points per game are now more than Edwards’ 25.7, while he and DiVincenzo have also taken on a more playmaking role. McDaniels and Reid have been strong scoring options, while Rudy Gobert has continued to be a top-tier paint defender, though there are still some questions about his peak performance with this team.
“His on balance finishing. His ability to kinda initiate contact and play off of it has been probably the best,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said on McDaniels, who is averaging a career-high 18.7 points per game. “And I think he’s just cleaner. He’s cleaner at the point of attack.
Other players like Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, Bones Hyland, and Terrence Shannon have been decent, but as seen with the strength of their starting or closing lineup, these reserve players will likely be weeded out as the season goes along.
Still, despite the close losses to begin the year, Minnesota has been strong in fourth quarters and clutch time, despite the Austin Reaves buzzer-beater the other day. The team is also shooting a league-third 40.2% from three-point range, which bodes well for any franchise hoping to fight for a title.
“It’s chemistry and I think it’s connectivity down the stretch. We have to keep being who we are on both ends, and we have to stay focused,” Gobert said. “A lot of those games [last season] didn’t need to be close games. But we made them close games because we’d kind of relax or have two bad turnovers, things like that. So it starts with a mental toughness.”
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