After previously thinking the star guard wouldn't return until mid-series, it's reported that Anthony Edwards is expected to play in Game 1 of the second round series Monday night.
The road ahead for the San Antonio Spurs, at first, appeared to be a little more favorable entering the second-round playoff matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Then things changed on a dime.
According to a report shared by ESPN's Shams Charania on Sunday, superstar guard Anthony Edwards was expected to miss the start of the series.
Then, Monday afternoon, Charania offered a contradictory timeline, saying the All-Star guard is now expected to play in Game 1, barring a pregame setback.
"Just 9 days removed from his left knee injury, and after the team had expected him to return midseries," Charania said hours before the Monday-night tipoff in San Antonio. "Edwards has received medical clearance and will get final sign-off after his pregame routine."
Edwards has missed Minnesota's last two games after hyperextending his knee in a home game against the Denver Nuggets.
Minnesota's former No. 1 overall pick, Charania reports, has undergone every measure imaginable to speed up his recovery process following a left knee injury that impacted the Wolves' last series against the Denver Nuggets, in which they won in six games despite not having Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo (ruptured Achilles) for the final two games.
For San Antonio, this was thought to be a kind of opportunity that shouldn't be wasted. It now ends up as a crucial last-minute adjustment to the game plan for stopping a 28.8 points-per-game scorer.
Edwards has been the engine behind Minnesota’s rise, a dynamic scorer capable of taking over games and shifting momentum in an instant. His explosiveness, shot creation, and confidence make him one of the most difficult covers in the league.
The former Georgia Bulldog averaged an incredible nearly 29 points per game during the regular season, and he did so some on some incredible shooting percentages. He was also able to get it done on the defensive end with just under one and a half steals per game
Without him on the floor, at least initially, the Timberwolves become a different team—still dangerous, but far less unpredictable.
That shift would have placed added pressure on Minnesota’s supporting cast to carry the load early, and it'd give the Spurs a clear window to seize control. Playoff series are often defined by moments, and the opening games can set a tone that’s difficult to reverse.
If San Antonio can capitalize while Edwards is sidelined, it could force Minnesota to play from behind even after their star returns.
That said, the situation is far from simple. The Spurs aren’t just trying to win games—they’re trying to build a cushion before the series potentially changes overnight ... or just hours before tipoff.
A healthy Edwards re-entering the lineup now swings pre-series momentum quickly, especially with the Timberwolves already riding high after the upset win, taking down Nikola Jokic & Co. while short-handed.
Injuries are part of the playoff landscape, but they only matter if a team turns them into an edge.
Minnesota just surprisingly gained that edge back before the series even started.
