Just in on @SportsCenter — Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards avoids ligament damage to his left knee but expected to miss multiple weeks:
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 05: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2025 in New York City.
Anthony Edwards suffered a bone bruise and left knee hyperextension after a scary fall in the second quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Game 4 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
While online speculation soon after Edwards’ injury hinted that it could have been a torn ACL, based on the latest update offered up by Shams Charania of ESPN, the Timberwolves’ star did not receive the worst-case scenario.
Still, Edwards is set to miss some time, and based on what Minnesota knows about his injury, a new return timeline has emerged, one that might not see the star come back for the rest of the season.
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 25: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to an apparent injury in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Per Charania, Edwards is set to miss multiple weeks with the bone bruise and hyperextension in his knee. Initial fears were that the star had suffered a torn ACL, so while he isn’t going to miss the nine to 12 month recovery that comes with that injury, he will be sidelined for the Timberwolves for a decent period.
Just in on @SportsCenter — Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards avoids ligament damage to his left knee but expected to miss multiple weeks:
However, with their Game 4 win, Minnesota now has a 3-1 series lead over the Nuggets, and while the injuries to Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo might signal the Timberwolves’ playoff run is coming to an early end, they are now in the driver’s seat in the first round series, currently favorites to advance.
With that, the idea of Edwards making an injury return at some point in the playoffs remains a realistic scenario.
According to the NBA’s key dates for the 2026 Playoffs, an Edwards injury return could come at a few different points in this postseason. Assuming the Timberwolves advance to the second round, that series would start on May 4, and potentially last up to two weeks.
Minnesota would play either the San Antonio Spurs or Portland Trail Blazers in that series, and as that matchup could last up to three weeks after Edwards suffered his injury, the second round could be when he returns.
Additionally, if Minnesota can beat the Nuggets and then either the Spurs or Blazers, they would advance to the conference finals, a series that wouldn’t start until May 20, which would be nearly four weeks after Edwards suffered the injury.
Edwards will begin rehab immediately as the Timberwolves finish their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets — up 3-1 — without him. Devastating injuries in Game 4 win: Donte DiVincenzo lost with a torn Achilles and a multiweek absence for Edwards. https://t.co/kKnl9nzx2Z
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 26, 2026
As Charania reported, however, Edwards is set to miss ‘multiple weeks’ so an official injury return timeline is not yet clear. Still, the longer the Timberwolves can stay alive, the more realistic it seems that the star will come back at some point.
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 25: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is helped off the floor after an apparent injury in the first quarter of Game Four in the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. DiVincenzo did not return to the game.
Along with Edwards’ knee injury, it was DiVincenzo who went down first for the Timberwolves in Game 4. He suffered a non-contact lower leg injury less than two minutes into the matchup and was later ruled out for the rest of the game.
Following Minnesota’s win, it was announced that DiVincenzo had suffered a torn Achilles tendon, an injury that is often considered the worst-case scenario for NBA players.
“Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo has been diagnosed with a torn right Achilles tendon, sources tell ESPN. His season is over with a lengthy recovery. Devastating blow for the Timberwolves starting guard,” Charania confirmed on X.
Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo has been diagnosed with a torn right Achilles tendon, sources tell ESPN. His season is over with a lengthy recovery. Devastating blow for the Timberwolves starting guard.
DiVincenzo will miss the rest of the year and will likely face a 12-month recovery process, with the potential of him missing all of the 2026-27 NBA season a high possibility.
While Edwards’ injury doesn’t appear to be as serious as some initially thought, that isn’t the case for DiVincenzo, as his season is over, and like Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton, there is a major chance of him missing all of the following season as he recovers from the torn Achilles tendon.
For now, however, the Timberwolves are still in a first-round series. As seen on Saturday night, Ayo Dosunmu will take on a scoring and playmaking role in the backcourt as long as Edwards is out.
Game 5 of the Timberwolves vs Nuggets series tips off on Monday, April 27, at 9:30 pm CST and will be live on NBC and Peacock.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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