How serious is the injury to Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards?

When the Minnesota Timberwolves suited up to face the Dallas Mavericks in their first NBA Preseason game, one player was glaringly absent from the starting lineup and even the rotation. If you hadn’t heard this one, Timberwolves All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards was not in the game. He didn’t even show up in the closing minutes, just to get some rust knocked off.

And that is a concern to every Timberwolves fan right now.

But should it be a concern, fret, worry, or fear right now? After all, the details about Anthony Edwards’s absence were not exactly very detailed. What we do know is that he did not appear in the Thursday preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks in Abu Dhabi because he suffered a minor ankle injury:

Chris Finch says Anthony Edwards tweaked his ankle in practice on Wednesday, but said he doesn’t believe it’s serious.

Finch said they hope to have him back for Saturday’s game.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) October 5, 2023

And so, the Minnesota Timberwolves chose caution of sitting him out in a preseason game rather than risking further injury.

The gamble pays off

In 20/20 hindsight, it was a great decision. Not only did the absence of Edwards afford premium playing time to other guards like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Shake Milton, but the Timberwolves obliterated the Mavericks by jumping out to a lead immediately following the opening tip-off and never looking back in this one.

Of course, Timberwolves fans love a win. But the Timberwolves fans are ravenous when it comes to seeing the play from one of the fastest-rising stars in the NBA as well. After his stellar performance throughout the 2023 FIBA World Cup Tournament, fans are eager to see him raise the bar once more.

Still, there are many players on this Timberwolves roster to get excited about. It was nice to see Timberwolves star power forward turn 17 minutes into 20 points and four rebounds. It was encouraging to witness center Rudy Gobert convert 23 minutes into nine points, a game-leading eight rebounds, and a game-leading three blocks. It was great to see the Timberwolves roster get 6.0+ rebounds out of Gobert, F Troy Brown Jr., C Luka Garza, and C/PF Naz Reid. And for comparison purposes, all four Timberwolves players outrebounded anyone on the Mavericks squad.

There was plenty of ball movement on the Timberwolves team in this one, but the combination of PG Mike Conley Jr. and G Shake Milton only came up with five assists. That is a number that both F Kyle Anderson and G Nickeil Alexander-Walker delivered individually.

Both teams will be back at it on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 11:00 am CT. Be sure to check back for updates and post-game assessments.

Even if Anthony Edwards sits out the second preseason game, I would not be alarmed. Edwards has plenty of experience playing with his teammates, and his whirlwind FIBA tour kept him in top basketball playing shape all summer.

He will be back at full strength soon. But as long as there is a risk to aggravating that ankle, I’m good with him sitting out a few preseason games.

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