When Anthony Edwards left Game 4 with a hyperextended knee injury, everyone was scared of the worst-case scenario: A torn ACL or another injury with any ligament damage. On Sunday morning, Shams Charania reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves starhas sustained a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee, an injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks.
While this is obviously unfortunate news, everyone should be relieved that it isn't a more serious injury and that Ant avoided any ligament damage. Edwards was already playing through a runner's knee injury in his other knee, which made this injury even more frightening.
Sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer noted that an injury like this was the best-case scenario for Edwards. It would have been truly devastating to see Ant suffer a more serious injury, especially with Donte DiVincenzo's heartbreaking torn Achilles injury in the same game.
Anthony Edwards could return at some point in the playoffs
Given the multiple-week timeline, Edwards will be out for the remainder of the Timberwolves first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. Up 3-1, the Wolves could close out the series as soon as Monday, or it could stretch into Saturday.
Depending on how long both this series and the San Antonio Spurs-Portland Trail Blazers series lasts, the second-round will begin between May 2 and May 5. The timeline of multiple weeks leaves the door open for Ant to possibly return in the second-round.
Regardless, that's an unlikely scenario, as Sutterer mentioned that he doesn't expect a return to be possible until a hypothetical conference finals series at the very earliest.
While making another deep playoff run is important, there's nothing more important than Edwards' (or anyone's) long-term health. Unless Ant is given the full green light, there's no point in returning to the court.
If the Wolves can close out the series against the Nuggets, taking down a 62-win Spurs without Edwards will be a tough task. Nevertheless, the Wolves are proving that they can never be counted out.
The defensive duo of Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert is enough to shut down any offense. Furthermore, between Julius Randle, Ayo Dosunmu (who scored 43 points in Game 4), and McDaniels, the Wolves have some clear players to lean on offense. If the Timberwolves pull off an upset over the Spurs, it would be improbable, but this team is showing us we should expect the unexpected.
Again, though, beyond any basketball implications, the bigger picture is that everyone is glad that Ant's injury wasn't on the more severe side.
Add us as a preferred source on Google