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Anthony Edwards reacts in pain after suffering an apparent left knee injury during Game 4 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.

The Minnesota Timberwolves may have avoided the worst with Anthony Edwards. The timeline, however, is raising far more concern.

Edwards sustained a bone bruise in his left knee after a hyperextension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, with imaging confirming no ligament damage. Charania added that Edwards would undergo “around-the-clock treatment” as he works toward a return.

That sounded like encouraging news—until a doctor broke down what it actually means.

Anthony Edwards Injury Update: Doctor Projects Conference Finals Timeline

Sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer offered a sobering outlook after reviewing the report.

“Probably don’t see Anthony Edwards back until the last couple games of the conference finals best case scenario,” Sutterer wrote on X.

That projection dramatically shifts expectations for Minnesota, especially in a series that could end well before that point.

Sutterer also emphasized that even the “best-case” diagnosis is still limiting in a playoff setting.

“The best case scenario is still a bad one in the playoffs,” he wrote. “Bone bruise is putting it mildly — there are likely true impaction/microfractures in the bone.”

Doctor Pushes Back on ‘Around-the-Clock’ Rehab Timeline

Sutterer specifically addressed the “around-the-clock treatment” note in Charania’s report, explaining why that does not translate to a faster return.

“You aren’t doing ‘around-the-clock rehab’ to speed up healing of the bone,” he wrote. “Delay use or offloading/crutches to rest the area. You can maintain conditioning elsewhere, but the bone has to heal.”

That distinction is critical.

Unlike muscle injuries, where aggressive treatment can accelerate recovery, bone injuries follow a fixed healing process that cannot be rushed through additional rehab work.

Why Anthony Edwards’ Return Could Take Weeks

Bone bruises—particularly those caused by hyperextension—often involve internal damage beneath the surface, including microfractures within the bone structure.

Even without ligament damage, those injuries can lead to lingering pain, swelling and instability, especially under game conditions.

Sutterer noted that returning too soon carries risk.

“Attempting to play through it before it settles down can lead to further damage to the bone and cartilage,” he wrote.

That risk-reward balance becomes especially difficult in the playoffs, where timelines are compressed and stakes are high.

Timberwolves Win Without Edwards, DiVincenzo

Minnesota showed resilience in Game 4, defeating the Denver Nuggets 112-96 to take a 3-1 series lead despite missing Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, who exited earlier with a lower leg injury.

Ayo Dosunmu stepped up with a career-high 43 points off the bench, helping stabilize the offense and push the Timberwolves to the brink of advancing.

Still, the larger question looms over the series.

What This Means for Anthony Edwards’ Playoff Outlook

For now, Minnesota has avoided a devastating diagnosis.

But Sutterer’s projection underscores the reality: avoiding ligament damage does not mean a quick return.

If the timeline holds, Edwards’ absence could stretch deep into the postseason—potentially forcing the Timberwolves to navigate the remainder of the series, and beyond, without their star guard.

And that could ultimately define how far this run goes.

Should the Timberwolves advance, they will face the winner of the San Antonio Spurs-Portland Trail Blazers series in the conference semifinals. The Spurs currently lead the Trail Blazers 2-1.

The Timberwolves will try to wrap up the series on Monday in Denver in what is expected to be an emotionally charged game.