![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/kupitiblog.store\/597\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/48d9a5558c20b4af9c535c84283413bc.jpg\" "\\"Anthony")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Anthony Edwards will play in Game 1 Monday night between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs.<\/p>\n
Head coach Chris Finch confirmed in his pregame news conference that Edwards is in the lineup.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s in,\u201d Finch told reporters.<\/p>\n
The news confirmed an earlier report from ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania that Edwards would play barring a pregame setback.<\/p>\n
Finch told reporters that Edwards would be on a minutes restriction but didn\u2019t offer further details. The Timberwolves later announced their starting lineup with Terrence Shannon Jr. in place of Edwards, meaning that Edwards will come off the bench.<\/p>\n
Edwards had been sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee that he hyperextended in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets on April 25. The injury was initially expected to sideline him through at least the start of the second-round series against the Spurs.<\/p>\n
But Edwards received medical clearance to play nine days after sustaining the injury. And he got final clearance after going through on-court drills Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
On Sunday afternoon, the Timberwolves upgraded Edwards\u2019 injury status for Monday\u2019s opening game against the Spurs to questionable, a surprise announcement on the heels of a report from Charania that Edwards was targeting a return in Game 3 or Game 4 of the series.<\/p>\n
Charania previously reported on \u201cNBA Tip-Off\u201d Sunday that Edwards wasn\u2019t expected to play in Monday\u2019s opener or Game 2, which is Wednesday. Charania reported Edwards was \u201chopeful that he could push to be back in the lineup potentially for Game 3 or Game 4 at the earliest.\u201d Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in Minnesota. Game 4 will take place on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Charania also noted in that report that \u201cMinnesota is going to be conservative\u201d in bringing Edwards back, in part due to inflammation in his right knee that sidelined him for the stretch run of the regular season. But that the equation changed swiftly ahead of Monday\u2019s Game 1 tip.<\/p>\n
The bone bruise sidelined Edwards for Games 5 and 6 as the Timberwolves closed out their first-round series against the Nuggets, but he avoided more serious ligament damage. And now, with a spot in the Western Conference finals at stake, Edwards is on track to play in Game 1.<\/p>\n
Per The Athletic\u2019s Jon Krawczynski, Edwards was not on the Minnesota sideline for Game 6 against Denver because he was working on his rehab and receiving treatment in hopes of playing against the Spurs if the Timberwolves advanced. Per the report, his knee responded well enough over the weekend to make playing in Game 1 a possibility.<\/p>\n
Edwards is key to Minnesota\u2019s hopes of competing against a Spurs team featuring MVP finalist Victor Wembanyama that finished the regular season with the NBA\u2019s second-best record.<\/p>\n
Edwards made his fourth straight All-Star team this season and averaged a career-high 28.8 points, alongside 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He also posted career highs while shooting 48.9% from the field and 39.9% on 8.4 3-point attempts per game.<\/p>\n
The Timberwolves will be without Ayo Dosunmu Monday night. Minnesota downgraded him to out Monday afternoon with a calf injury that sidelined him for Game 6 against Denver.<\/p>\n
Dosunmu was key in Edwards\u2019 absence against the Nuggets. He scored a career-high 43 points to lead Minnesota to a Game 4 victory after Edwards left the game with his injury. He started in Game 5 in Edwards\u2019 place and scored 18 points.<\/p>\n