Getty

Anthony Edwards still does not have a firm injury return date for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the latest update from head coach Chris Finch keeps the team’s best player on a cautious timeline entering the Western Conference semifinals.

Dane Moore of Blue Wire reported on X that Finch said Edwards is “still week to week,” while guard Ayo Dosunmu is “more day to day.” That distinction matters with Minnesota’s second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs set to begin on May 4, leaving the Timberwolves with very little time between games for Edwards to clear the next step in his recovery.

The practical return target is now Game 4 on May 10, not because the Timberwolves have announced that date, but because that would put Edwards just past the two-week mark from the injury. ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported that Edwards was expected to miss “at minimum” two weeks, while NBA.com has noted that his availability for the start of the second round was in question.

Anthony Edwards Has No Firm Return Date, and Coach Chris Finch Says He’s “Week-to-Week” in Latest Reporting

Finch’s latest public framing does not sound like a player on the verge of an immediate Game 1 return.

“Week-to-week” is an intentionally broad label. It does not mean Edwards is out for the entire series, but it also does not support the idea that he is simply one good practice away from returning. With the Spurs series scheduled every other day through Game 5, Minnesota does not have a long break built into the calendar.

That is the biggest problem for the Timberwolves. Edwards could be improving and still miss multiple games because the schedule moves faster than his rehab window.

The Timberwolves are already dealing with a thinner backcourt. Donte DiVincenzo suffered a ruptured right Achilles in Game 4 against Denver and is out for the postseason, while Dosunmu’s calf issue adds another layer of uncertainty even after his massive first-round breakout. NBA.com reported that DiVincenzo’s injury ended his season, and Moore’s latest note from Finch put Dosunmu in the “day to day” category.

For Minnesota, that means Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid and the remaining guards have to carry a heavier offensive burden against a Spurs team built around Victor Wembanyama’s rim protection.

Anthony Edwards Is Dealing With a Hyperextended Knee

The Timberwolves announced that Edwards underwent an MRI at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine after injuring his left knee in the second quarter of Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets. The exam revealed a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise, with no ligament damage, and the team classified him as week-to-week.

That “no ligament damage” part was the best possible news for Minnesota, especially after Edwards left the game and the initial fear centered on a more serious knee injury. But a bone bruise and hyperextension can still be limiting, particularly for a player whose game depends on burst, stopping power and contact finishes.

Edwards was hurt in Minnesota’s 112-96 Game 4 win over Denver, a victory that pushed the Timberwolves ahead 3-1 in the series. The injury occurred in the first half of that win, and Edwards did not return.

Minnesota still finished the job against Denver, beating the Nuggets in six games to advance to the conference semifinals. But the Spurs series is a different challenge because the Timberwolves are no longer trying to steal a game without Edwards. They may have to build an entire early-series plan without him.

Moore did show Anthony Edwards shooting free throws and jumpers at a practice on May 2, which could be encouraging.

Timberwolves-Spurs Starts on May 4

The Timberwolves-Spurs series starts May 4 in San Antonio. The NBA’s playoff schedule lists Game 2 for May 6, Game 3 for May 8 and Game 4 for May 10. Game 5, if necessary, is scheduled for May 12, with Game 6 on May 15 and Game 7 on May 17.

That puts the pressure point on Game 4.

Edwards was injured on April 25. If the minimum two-week timeline holds, May 10 is the first game that clearly lines up with that window. But Finch’s “week-to-week” update keeps the door open to Edwards missing more than just the first two games. If he is not ready by Game 4, he would have missed the majority of the guaranteed games in the series.

The Timberwolves can survive stretches without Edwards. They proved that against Denver. Dosunmu scored 43 points in Game 4, and Minnesota’s defense remains physical enough to bother opponents even without its lead scorer.

But surviving the Spurs without Edwards is not the same thing as controlling the series. San Antonio has home-court advantage as the No. 2 seed, Wembanyama changes shot selection around the rim, and the Wolves’ margin for offensive droughts shrinks without Edwards attacking late in the clock.

For now, the return target is not a promise. It is a window. And unless Edwards moves from “week-to-week” to “day-to-day,” the Timberwolves should be preparing to play most of the front half of the Spurs series without him.