Anthony Edwards is back on the floor for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but an NBA insider says the Timberwolves are still not getting the full version of their franchise star.
ESPN’s Marc J. Spears said on NBA Today that his sources tell him Edwards is playing at about “70%” as he manages his knee injury during Minnesota’s second-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
That helps explain the most important part of Edwards’ return. The question has moved beyond whether Edwards can suit up. It is now about how much burst, workload and late-game control the Timberwolves can reasonably expect from him as the series shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3.
Edwards suffered a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise during Minnesota’s first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. He avoided ligament damage but was initially ruled out for the rest of that round before pushing ahead of the expected timeline.
That return has helped keep Minnesota alive. But it has also forced head coach Chris Finch to manage the game differently than he would with Edwards at full strength.
Marc J. Spears Said on NBA Today That His Sources Tell Him Anthony Edwards is at “70%”
Spears’ update gives Timberwolves fans a cleaner explanation for what they have been watching through the first two games against San Antonio.
Edwards has played, and at times he has looked capable of changing the game in the way only he can. But his role has been noticeably different. He came off the bench in Game 1 and played 25 minutes, finishing with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting in Minnesota’s 104-102 win.
That performance was impressive considering Edwards had just missed 10 days because of the injury. It was also not a normal Edwards workload.
The Timberwolves have leaned into caution, which makes sense if Spears’ reporting is accurate. A 70% Edwards is still one of Minnesota’s most important players, but that version of Edwards cannot be treated the same as the regular-season version who averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game.
That distinction matters. Edwards’ value is not just shot-making. It is downhill pressure, transition force, defensive physicality and the way his presence settles Minnesota’s offense when possessions get tight.
If the knee limits even part of that package, the Timberwolves have to adjust.
Anthony Edwards Injury Explains Why He’s Been On a Minutes Restriction Against the Spurs
The clearest sign of Edwards’ status has been his minutes.
Edwards played 25 minutes in Game 1 and 24 minutes in Game 2, a major change from the all-in postseason workload stars usually carry at this stage. Edwards was listed as questionable with a left knee bone bruise, while Donte DiVincenzo remained out and Ayo Dosunmu was also on the injury report.
The restriction has a basketball cost.
When Edwards is not starting, Minnesota has to survive early stretches without its best shot creator. When he is limited after checking in, the Timberwolves have to balance short-term urgency against the risk of asking too much from a player still working through a knee issue.
That showed up in Game 2. San Antonio blasted Minnesota 133-95 to even the series, and the Spurs’ pressure created problems for Wolves ball-handlers. Minnesota committed 22 turnovers, while San Antonio outscored the Timberwolves 58-36 in the paint.
Those are exactly the areas where a healthier Edwards would normally matter. He gives Minnesota a pressure release against traps. He can get two feet in the paint. He can turn broken possessions into foul pressure or kickout 3s.
At 70%, those advantages become less reliable.
That does not mean Edwards cannot swing the series. It means Minnesota may have to be more precise with when and how it uses him.
Timberwolves-Spurs Could Swing in Game 3
Game 3 now becomes the real test of Minnesota’s Edwards plan.
The series is tied 1-1, but the mood changed quickly after San Antonio’s Game 2 blowout. The Spurs enter Target Center with momentum, a healthy roster and a defensive approach that has already bothered Minnesota’s guards. The Timberwolves enter with home court, a playable Edwards and the pressure of proving Game 2 was not the beginning of a larger problem.
Pounding The Rock noted that Minnesota was undefeated at home in the postseason entering Game 3 and that the Spurs were trying to regain home-court advantage after splitting the first two games.
That puts Edwards in a tricky but familiar spot. He does not need to look like his regular-season self for 40 minutes. He may only need to win the right pockets of the game.
Anthony Edwards’ Injury is Affecting His Minutes, NBA Insider Says