Anthony Edwards left the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 4 matchup against the Denver Nuggets after suffering an apparent left knee injury, adding a major scare to a night that had already turned rough physically for Minnesota.
Multiple courtside reporters noted that Edwards appeared to grab at his left knee after a hard landing before being helped toward the locker room. The Timberwolves had not announced an official diagnosis at the time of publication.
UPDATE, 10:15 p.m. EST: ESPN reported that Edwards would be out for the rest of the game with a left-knee injury.
WHAT A CURSED GAME FOR THE TIMBERWOLVES TONIGHT
First Donte, now Edwards
It was on his healthy foot too
The injury concern was especially notable because Edwards’ right knee had already been a storyline throughout the series. He had been listed as questionable earlier in the first-round matchup because of right knee injury maintenance, and Reuters reported that he missed 11 of Minnesota’s final 14 regular-season games because of knee inflammation before returning for Game 1.
That made the Game 4 exit alarming on two levels: it involved the opposite knee from the one Minnesota had been managing, and it came with the Timberwolves trying to move one win away from eliminating the defending Western Conference contender Nuggets.
It added to an already disastrous night for the Timberwolves, after Donte DiVincenzo exited with an apparent Achilles injury.
He appeared to be grabbing his left knee. The right knee was the knee that had been injured.
Anthony Edwards Injury Adds to Timberwolves’ Game 4 Concerns
Minnesota entered Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead after beating Denver 113-96 in Game 3. Reuters credited the Wolves’ defense for that win, noting that Denver shot just 34.1% from the field and 20% from 3-point range while Nikola Jokic went 7-of-26.
Edwards had not needed to carry the Wolves alone in that victory. Ayo Dosunmu scored 25 points off the bench, Jaden McDaniels posted 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Donte DiVincenzo added 15 points and four steals.
But Edwards is still Minnesota’s offensive ceiling-raiser, late-clock creator and emotional center. If his Game 4 exit turns into something more than a brief scare, it changes the way the series looks immediately.
The Wolves were already dealing with another in-game injury issue. DiVincenzo suffered a non-contact injury 71 seconds into Game 4 and was helped off the court.
That matters because DiVincenzo’s availability affects Minnesota’s guard depth and spacing. Losing him and Edwards in the same game would put more pressure on Dosunmu, Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to handle the ball and defend Denver’s perimeter creators.
Timberwolves Had Just Gotten Encouraging Edwards News
The timing was brutal for Minnesota because Edwards had just appeared to be trending in the right direction.
NBA.com previewed Game 4 by noting that Edwards had sometimes been seen limping, but the Wolves had been able to “buy Edwards time” because teammates had stepped up around him.
That formula becomes much harder if Edwards is unavailable or limited. Minnesota can win stretches with defense, size and depth, but Edwards is the player who can bend a playoff defense when a possession breaks down.
Against Denver, that matters even more. The Nuggets can force a game into half-court execution through Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, who started Game 4 after missing Game 3 with a hamstring injury.
What Anthony Edwards’ Exit Means for Minnesota
Until the Timberwolves provide an official update, the only responsible framing is that Edwards left with an apparent knee injury. There is no confirmed diagnosis, no confirmed timeline and no confirmed indication of whether he avoided serious damage.
Anthony Edwards Stats: The 24-year-old All-Star had been one of the key offensive players in the NBA. He averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game, while adding five rebounds and 3.7 assists per night.
Still, the short-term basketball impact is clear.
If Edwards cannot return, Minnesota needs more creation from Julius Randle and more downhill guard play from Dosunmu. McDaniels becomes even more important as a two-way swing piece, and Conley’s decision-making becomes central against Denver’s pressure.
The Wolves also have to avoid letting the injury situation change the tone of the series. They entered Game 4 with control, home court and a chance to put Denver on the brink. Edwards’ exit does not erase that, but it makes the margin thinner.
For now, the Timberwolves’ biggest win would be a favorable medical update on their franchise guard.
UPDATED Anthony Edwards Injury: Star Leaves Timberwolves’ Game 4 With an Apparent Knee Issue