Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show — new updates on Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets’ future:
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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.
NBA superstar Anthony Edwards‘ injury and eventual return are the leading stories for the Minnesota Timberwolves heading into their second-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
Edwards suffered a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise during the Timberwolves’ opening-round win over the Denver Nuggets. While he avoided any serious ligament damage, the expectation was that the star would be out for a few weeks and miss the start of their series against the Spurs.
However, after Minnesota offered a new Edwards injury update, upgraded him to questionable for Game 1, the shooting guard could be closer to a return than anyone previously thought, and could be playing to start the Timberwolves’ second-round series.
Over the weekend, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Edwards would miss the start of the series against the Spurs with his knee injury but could be expected sometime back near the middle of the second round.
Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show — new updates on Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets’ future:
But shortly after, the Timberwolves officially upgraded Edwards’ injury status to questionable for Game 1 on Monday night.
“Edwards, who has missed the last two games with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise, has been cleared for on-court basketball activities,” the team wrote in a statement. “He will be listed as questionable for Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs.
With that, ESPN.com has an ‘estimated’ return date for injured stars, predicting when the league’s sidelined players will be able to come back from whatever health concern they are facing.
Heading into the series, Edwards’ estimated return date was on May 9, which is between Games 3 and 4. However, after he was upgraded to questionable, ESPN has shifted the star’s return date to May 4, the date of Game 1 of the Timberwolves vs Spurs series.
It remains to be seen if Edwards will make a quick turnaround on his knee injury and be able to get back on the court for Minnesota to start the series. Still, he is reportedly a ‘fast healer,’ and while the injury looked serious in the moment, the guard avoided any serious damage, and could very well be on a faster recovery track than is publicly being reported.
His official injury status for Game 1 will eventually be either upgraded or downgraded from questionable, but for now, it looks as though the Timberwolves aren’t yet ruling him out to start the series against the Spurs.
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.
Despite all of that, an estimated return date by ESPN isn’t a guarantee. What is known is that Edwards is questionable for Game 1, which by itself came as a surprise to many.
According to Jon Krawczynski, who covers the Timberwolves for The Athletic, while Edwards was making progress and is now questionable, the fact that the franchise hasn’t offered an official return timeline likely means he’ll remain out for Monday night.
Edwards is not doubtful. He’s questionable. That tells you he has every intention of playing. Tomorrow at shootaround likely will be a big test
“The team has not issued an official timeline for his return, making it all but impossible for him to play in Game 1 on Monday,” he wrote. “Edwards was on the court after practice Saturday getting some shots up, but he did not participate in practice.”
Previously, Minnesota head coach Chris Finch had said Edwards was still week-to-week and signaled the star wouldn’t begin the series against San Antonio. However, Edwards has maintained that he is hoping to make a return at some point in the second round.
“Anthony Edwards was upgraded to questionable on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ injury report Sunday evening, further indication he is pushing to get into this second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs as quickly as possible,” Krawczynski added. “Edwards has been doing around-the-clock treatment on his injured left knee, and he has told teammates he plans on returning at some point in the series, team sources told The Athletic.”
The team insider added, like Charania reported, that closer to Game 3 or 4 would be a more likely return date for Edwards. But still, with his status being upgraded and the team keeping flexibility on his status to start the series, he can’t yet be ruled out.
Regardless of whether Edwards plays in Game 1, if the Timberwolves can win one of the first two games of the series against the Spurs, it makes the idea of Minnesota getting their star back all the more likely. An official return timeline or date remains to be seen, but all signs show Edwards is working to get back on the court soon.
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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