The Minnesota Timberwolves are holding their own in the brutal grind of the Western Conference, sticking to the formula that’s kept them in the mix over the past few seasons: a defense-first mentality paired with efficient, team-oriented offense. At the heart of it all has been Anthony Edwards, who’s taken another leap this season and become the engine that powers this team on both ends of the floor.
But heading into a key matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, there’s some uncertainty hanging over the Wolves - and it starts with Edwards’ availability. The star guard missed their last game against the Golden State Warriors with a toe injury, and he remains listed as questionable ahead of this back-to-back stretch. His status could remain a game-time decision.
What makes this situation tricky is how suddenly the injury emerged. According to head coach Chris Finch, the team didn’t even know Edwards was dealing with an issue until right before tipoff against Golden State.
“It was news to me, honestly,” Finch admitted. “He had pain from the foot that's been troubling him.”
Finch also noted that he hasn’t had a recent update from the performance team since the decision was made to sit Edwards against the Warriors, adding another layer of uncertainty heading into the Mavericks game.
If Edwards can’t go, Minnesota will once again have to get creative to fill the void. He’s averaging a career-best 29.7 points per game this season - a number that speaks not just to his scoring ability, but to the central role he plays in the Wolves’ offensive identity. He’s been the go-to guy in crunch time, the tone-setter early, and the one who consistently draws the best perimeter defender every night.
Replacing that kind of impact isn’t a one-man job. It’ll take a collective effort.
Julius Randle and others will need to shoulder more of the scoring load, and the Wolves will likely lean even harder on their defense to keep games within reach. The good news?
This team has shown it can compete without Edwards in short bursts, thanks to a deep rotation and a system that doesn’t fall apart when one piece is missing - even if that piece is their franchise cornerstone.
Still, there’s no sugarcoating it: Minnesota is at its best when Edwards is on the floor. His presence opens up everything - spacing, tempo, shot creation - and without him, the margin for error shrinks.
As the Wolves prepare for this back-to-back, all eyes will be on the injury report. Whether Edwards suits up or not could go a long way in determining how they stack up against Luka Dončić and the Mavericks.