The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their second-round series in a matchup that will feature NBA superstar Anthony Edwards, who has now been officially cleared to make his injury return.
Edwards missed just nine days with a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee, and after first being questionable heading into Game 1, he’s now set to play to start the Timberwolves’ series against the Spurs.
But even with their franchise star back and available, Minnesota will need a lot of help to get past the Victor Wembanyama-led San Antonio team.
Before the crucial Game 1 against the second seed in the West, the Timberwolves announced their starting lineup and final injury report for Monday night, coming after the latest Edwards injury update
Timberwolves Announce Starting Lineup For Game 1 vs Spurs
In the lead-up to tipoff, the Timberwolves confirmed their starting lineup with a post on social media.
Mike Conley, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert all got the nod as starters from head coach Chris Finch and his staff.
Outside of Conley and Shannon, this is the group Minnesota has gone with when healthy. When Edwards was out, it was either Shannon or Ayo Dosunmu starting in his place, and it is now confirmed that the former will get the nod once again while Edwards comes off the bench. Conley is in for the injured Donte DiVincenzo, who will miss an extended period with a torn Achilles tendon.
Additionally, with the injuries the Timberwolves are facing, along with Edwards, Minnesota will need scoring help from McDaniels, Randle, and Naz Reid off the bench. McDaniels had a standout series against the Denver Nuggets, but he might face a tougher test against their top-tier guard and wing defenders the Spurs will put on him.
Is Anthony Edwards Playing Tonight? Latest Injury Update And Return
GettyMinnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards just got a major update about his status for Game 1 vs. the San Antonio Spurs.
Yes, Edwards is available for Game 1, but he is not in the Timberwolves’ starting lineup. He was originally listed as questionable heading into the Monday night game, but there was buzz that the star was ramping up for a miraculously quick return from what looked like a scary knee injury in Game 5 against Denver.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Edwards had gone through shootaround earlier in the day, and updated that with a later report that the star was ‘expected‘ to make his return in Game 1.
“Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards is expected to play in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, barring any setback pregame, per ESPN sources,” he wrote in a post on X. “Just 9 days removed from his left knee injury, and after the team had expected him to return midseries, Edwards has received medical clearance and will get final sign-off after his pregame routine.”
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic had also reported Edwards was making an effort to return at some point in the series.
Both Charania and Krawczynski detailed that Edwards was doing advanced recovery work in hopes of making an early comeback from injury, as it was first reported he would miss a few weeks, but that return timeline was dropped to just nine days since he suffered the injury.
But despite Charania’s reporting, it took until roughly an hour before tipoff for the Timberwolves to officially confirm his status as available for Game 1.
Finch on his quick return: “He loves to play the game.”
Now, Minnesota will have its franchise star back to start the series against the Spurs. He will be on a minute restriction, one that is not currently known.
While he was upgraded to available, the Timberwolves will still be without DiVincenzo and Dosunmu for Game 1. The former is out for the season, while Dosunmu’s status going forward will be worth keeping an eye on, as he sat out in the final game of the series against the Nuggets, and is currently ruled out with left calf soreness, an injury he picked up in the final stretch of the regular season.
Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 1 will tip off at 8:30 pm CST on Monday, May 4, and will be live on NBCSN and Peacock.
Timberwolves Announce Anthony Edwards News, Starting Lineup For Game 1 Vs Spurs