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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.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to play the Indiana Pacers in the team’s first game of the final week of the 2025-26 NBA regular season, a contest that will not feature Anthony Edwards, as the star is out due to injury.

While the Timberwolves will still be without their franchise centerpiece, as well as Jaden McDaniels, still currently on the injury report, the game against the tanking Pacers might not be their toughest task of the season

Still, with a win and a Phoenix Suns loss, Minnesota can clinch a top-six seed and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs, based on the latest postseason scenarios announced by the NBA, so a victory against the lowly Indiana team remains important nonetheless.

Minnesota Timberwolves Starting Lineup Vs. Pacers

Before the game, the Timberwolves took to social media to announce their starting lineup for Tuesday night. It was also confirmed on NBA.com.

Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert were all chosen as starters by head coach Chris Finch.

While Edwards has been out with a knee injury, an issue that he has yet to fully recover from, the Timberwolves have been using players like Conley, Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, and Terrence Shannon in his place in the starting lineup.

This particular group of starters has been on Finch and the coaching staff has been fond of. While there might be a lack of size and explosion in the backcourt, it’s a solid starting five that has worked well together over the past few weeks.

Anthony Edwards Injury Update

Both Edwards and McDaniels are the only two players listed on the Timberwolves’ injury report for the game against the Pacers.

McDaniels is dealing with a knee injury, and according to the latest update, he is officially week to week, the team announced.

“An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) conducted by Dr. Craig Bennett at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine on McDaniels revealed left knee patella tendinopathy and a bone bruise. McDaniels will be listed as week-to-week, and further updates of his progress will be provided when available,” Minnesota wrote over a week ago.

As for Edwards, his knee injury is a bit more complicated. He was sidelined for six games in March with right knee inflammation, and has played just two games since. According to Jon Krawczysnki of The Athletic, he is dealing with ‘runner’s knee,’ the same injury that kept Stephen Curry out for more than two months.

While he is officially listed as ‘day-to-day,’ per Finch, the star has no exact return date.

“(Head coach Chris) Finch indicated that the Wolves are navigating a similarly unpredictable path with Edwards,” Krawczynski wrote. “Like Curry, there is nothing structurally wrong with Edwards’ knee. Doctors have told him he is cleared to play when he feels well enough to go. But on the tougher days, the pain can be significant.”

Timberwolves Playoffs Scenario

According to the NBA, with a win on Tuesday and a Suns loss, the Timberwolves will clinch a berth in the playoffs.

However, at this point, and based on the rest of the Western Conference standings, Minnesota will likely stay sixth, just one seed up from the Play-In Tournament.

There’s good news and bad news in that. The good news is that the Timberwolves made the Conference Finals last year as a sixth seed, and just being in the postseason gives them a chance for another deep run.

However, based on the rest of the West, it now does not look like they will get the ideal first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, a team they demolished last year and one that will be without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

At this point, a first-round date with the Denver Nuggets appears to be the most likely outcome. It won’t be the toughest possible competition in the West, but certainly playing the Lakers or Houston Rockets would be a better-case scenario.