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Timberwolves lose Anthony Edwards for two months after knee surgery
Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee and is expected to miss about two months, a major blow for the Timberwolves early in the season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards for roughly two months after he underwent an arthroscopic procedure to repair his right knee, according to ESPN. The injury is a significant loss for Minnesota just four games into the season.
Edwards was listed as questionable for the Timberwolves' Monday night game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the second half of a back-to-back. He played a full 41 minutes and scored 47 points, but Minnesota fell 127-125 in overtime. The knee issue is believed to have originated in Minnesota's win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, when he was seen grabbing at the right knee. Head coach Chris Finch described Edwards' condition as a daily situation after the injury designation, and at that point he did not appear to expect a problem more serious than a day-to-day ailment.
The outlook changed quickly. Edwards had already dealt with runner's knee on the same leg last season, which forced him to miss time at the end of the regular season. He also suffered a hyperextended left knee during the first round of the playoffs, when Minnesota defeated the Denver Nuggets in six games. Last season he missed 21 games, the most of his career. Edwards said he took time during the summer to rest his knees, and there were no issues during training camp.
He had been playing at a high level, becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to score 45 or more points in his team's first four games, including a 47-point performance on opening night against the Miami Heat. Two-time All-NBA selection Edwards has been central to Minnesota's offense, and his absence will test the team's depth.
Finch will rely on Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland to help fill the gap Edwards leaves during his recovery. The Timberwolves will also look to others in the starting lineup, including LaMelo Ball, who is in his first season in Minnesota, to carry more of the offensive load. The early-season injury raises questions about how the team manages its workload in back-to-back games, since Edwards played the full second night of a back-to-back while already struggling with right knee pain earlier in the season.
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