The Timberwolves keep stacking wins, but Anthony Edwards’ right knee is now the story hovering over Minnesota’s perfect start.
Sunday night’s 117-94 rout of the Toronto Raptors pushed the Wolves to 3-0, with all three victories coming by an average of 23.3 points and a franchise-record +70 point differential. That number doubles the previous high of +33 from 2013-14.
Edwards was right in the middle of it again, finishing with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting in 28 minutes. LaMelo Ball chipped in 15 points and eight assists, and Minnesota was plus-33 in his 17 minutes.
The result was never really in doubt, but Edwards’ body drew plenty of attention. There were multiple moments Sunday when he appeared to be dealing with pain in his right knee.
The first came after a second-quarter dunk in transition, when he winced and reached toward the knee. Jack Borman of Locked On Timberwolves later noted Edwards was holding it in the corner on the next possession.
Then, with 11:20 left in the third quarter, Edwards collided with Immanuel Quickley on a Timberwolves fast break and seemed to aggravate the same knee again.
That concern lands in the middle of an already lengthy injury history for Edwards. He missed six regular-season games in March because of soreness and inflammation in his right knee, then sat out 11 of the final 14 regular-season games with more inflammation.
He ended the season with 61 games played, four shy of the 65 required for postseason awards. When the playoffs began, he was listed as questionable for Game 2 in Denver because of right knee injury maintenance.
The problems didn’t stop there. In Game 4 of the first round, Edwards hyperextended his left knee against the Denver Nuggets and was diagnosed with a bone bruise.
He still returned for Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs on a minutes restriction. He wasn’t the same player the rest of the postseason, but he still chose not to have surgery on either knee this offseason.
After Sunday’s win, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported that Edwards was not made available to reporters because he was in the training room and had to catch the team flight afterward. His status for Monday’s game in Cleveland was up in the air. On Monday, the Timberwolves listed him as questionable against the Cavaliers because of right knee injury management, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
The organization had already been asked about Edwards’ knees this offseason. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly addressed the issue in May and gave a blunt answer: “No surgery, just some rest, don’t touch a ball for a while, and I think he’ll come back like he does every year, a better version of himself.”
At the start of camp, Edwards said he took about two months off to let his knee heal, and that it was still sore after that before treatment got him right. Through three games, he has looked every bit like the centerpiece of Minnesota’s start, averaging 28.7 points and shooting 43.3% from three, including a 45-point opener in Miami.
For now, though, the Wolves’ spotless record comes with a very obvious asterisk: their superstar’s right knee does not look like it’s fully settled yet.
In Other News...
Anthony Edwards Has The Wolves Drawing Real Attention Already
Before the home opener, the Timberwolves were already drawing attention from the other sideline, with Raptors coach Darko Rajakovi making it clear he sees Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball as part of a young backcourt that can grab a leaguewide audience. He also pointed to the overall talent on Minnesotas roster, a sign the Wolves are starting to look like a team opponents are studying closely instead of simply preparing for.
Toronto arrives shorthanded, too, after ruling out Kawhi Leonard because of knee swelling, which only sharpens the backdrop for a game that has a little more weight than a typical early-season matchup. For Minnesota, this is the kind of night that can help confirm the growing buzz around Edwards and the group around him, especially when an opposing coach is already talking about the matchup in flattering terms. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Showed Off A New Strength In A Blowout Win
The Timberwolves first home game of the season came with the kind of cushion teams usually earn only after theyve built a real identity. Minnesota rolled past Toronto by 23 points, making it three straight wins by 20 or more and offering another reminder that this group can now overwhelm opponents in stretches even when the rotation is forced to shift around. With LaMelo Ball limited by foul trouble, the Wolves leaned deeper into the bench, and players like Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. helped keep the pressure on.
There was still a flaw tucked inside the blowout, though, and its one Minnesota will want to clean up as the schedule tightens. The offense kept humming, but the defensive rebounding lagged, especially in minutes when Rudy Gobert sat, allowing Toronto extra chances it probably never should have had in a game that lopsided. For a team playing this well, those empty possessions are the kind of detail that can matter a lot more when the margin shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves 3-0 Start Is Fueling Real Belief In Their Depth
Three games into the season, the Timberwolves have already shown why depth can matter as much as star power in the grind of an NBA schedule. Minnesotas 3-0 start came against playoff-caliber Eastern Conference teams, and the common thread has been a bench that keeps producing instead of just surviving minutes before the stars return. Role players have looked comfortable in real rotation roles, giving the Wolves a more layered feel than a team still trying to find its footing.
Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Trey Lyles have all given Minnesota useful minutes, the kind that can change the tone of a game when the first unit needs a breather. Jonathan Kuminga has fit that same mold as a complementary starter, giving the Wolves efficient offense without needing the ball to dominate possession, and that kind of balance is exactly what makes this early run feel meaningful. The real question now is how long this level of contribution can hold, because if the supporting cast stays this reliable, Minnesotas early belief might be grounded in something real. [Read more 🡒]