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Anthony Edwards smiles as the Minnesota Timberwolves get timely boost ahead of Game 3 following the surprising Denver Nuggets injury report.

The Minnesota Timberwolves got their latest update for star Anthony Edwards, following their Game 5 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. 

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania in Go Up, Edwards is out for at least two weeks, ruling him out for the remainder of Round 1 against the Nuggets, where the Timberwolves are leading 3-2. 

“Anthony Edwards is out in this series. Of course, it’s up in the air when and where he is going to return,” Charania said. “It’s going to be, at minimum, in my understanding, two weeks. So that  puts you some point in the second round, where the window is starting to open up for you to return.”

Edwards, who has been the Timberwolves’ go-to guy, is nursing a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee after hyperextending his knee in Game 4 against the Nuggets. The game proved to be a pivotal one for the Timberwolves as it gave them a commanding 3-1 lead and pushed the Nuggets to the brink of elimination. 

Fortunately for Edwards, there was no structural or serious damage found in his knee, allowing for a short return to the floor. 

In Game 5, the Timberwolves struggled to match the Nuggets’ offense. Denver saw four starters score 18 or more points en route to the win. 

Game 6 will be crucial for both squads as a Timberwolves win would propel them to the second round, while a Nuggets victory would force the series to a Game 7 in Denver. 

Timberwolves Coach Chris Finch Keeps Faith on Early Return of Anthony Edwards

GettyChris Finch believes Anthony Edwards can return early.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has great faith in Anthony Edwards. According to Finch, the team knows that every time they extend the series against the Nuggets, the possibility of Edwards’ return also increases, as he believes the Timberwolves superstar would eventually return early from his injury. 

“We do know that if we keep extending this playoff series, he is going to come back,” Finch said before Game 5. “And he generally comes back ahead of the timeline.”

Despite playing without Edwards, the Timberwolves found timely offensive options in the likes of Ayo Dosunmu, Naz Reid, Bones Hyland, and Terrence Shannon Jr., all of whom scored double digits in Game 5. 

If they proceeded to defeat the Nuggets, the Timberwolves would play the winner of the San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers series. Spurs lead the series, 3-1. 

Timberwolves Look to Deny Repeat of History by the Nuggets History

GettyTimberwolves-Nuggets face off in. pivotal Game 6.

The Timberwolves would also look to deny a repeat of history for the Denver Nuggets. 

The Nuggets are the last team to recover from a 3-1 advantage. In 2020, Denver overcame two 3-1 deficits in the same playoff run. 

In Round 1, they defeated the Utah Jazz before pulling off the same feat against the LA Clippers in the second round. 

That team was led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in one of their first marquee playoff runs as the league’s best one-two punch. 

Game 6 of the Timberwolves-Nuggets clash will be on Thursday, April 30.