Anthony Edwards’ absence another challenge for Wolves in tight playoff race

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t needed to play with out Anthony Edwards fairly often during the last six years. He is likely one of the most sturdy stars in the league, taking part in in 94 % of his accessible video games.

But because the playoffs close to, the Wolves are going to overlook their celebrity for no less than per week due to irritation in his proper knee, dealing a blow to the crew’s hopes of cementing a top-four playoff seed and threatening to take away another high participant from All-NBA eligibility.

Edwards will likely be re-evaluated in one to 2 weeks, the crew introduced on Tuesday, eradicating the crew’s main scorer and emotional chief from an air-tight playoff race.

The Wolves responded effectively in their first check with out him, as 5 gamers scored in double figures in a vital 116-104 victory over Phoenix. Minnesota (42-27) stays in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, behind the fifth-place Denver Nuggets (42-27) as a result of tiebreakers. The Timberwolves did put another sport between them and the Suns (39-30), who’re in seventh place.

“We knew what was at stake for us,” mentioned Bones Hyland, who scored 22 factors off the bench. “We knew they were seventh. We were sixth. We (don’t) wanna be there. We want to keep moving up.”

Edwards, 24, has performed in 58 video games this season, although solely 57 depend for awards eligibility as a result of he left the sport on Oct. 26 after taking part in simply three minutes. This means he might want to take part in seven extra contests to be eligible for All-NBA honors. Edwards has been named to the All-NBA Second Team in back-to-back seasons and can doubtless land on one of many three groups if he performs no less than 65 video games. The Timberwolves have 14 video games remaining this season; they might have solely seven left if Edwards misses precisely two weeks.

Edwards has been bothered by knee ache for greater than per week. He labored by means of the loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday and was listed as out for the Suns sport earlier than the crew up to date their standing on Tuesday afternoon.

Edwards and the Timberwolves should not involved that this harm will likely be a long-term state of affairs that might jeopardize his availability for the postseason, in line with a number of league and crew sources.

The perception is that Edwards wants time to permit the irritation to relax, and he will likely be again and able to go.

Still, the harm comes at a horrible time for the Timberwolves, who’ve been remarkably wholesome this season. They are locked in an ultra-tight race with the Lakers (43-25), Rockets (41-26) and Nuggets (42-27) for a top-four seed and homecourt benefit in the primary spherical of the playoffs. The Suns are nonetheless lurking as effectively, threatening to push a kind of 4 groups into the Play-In Tournament.

So a lot of the offense this season has been constructed round Edwards’ multi-level excellence. He is the crew’s most prolific 3-point shooter, it has showcased a much-improved midrange sport and is ending on the rim at a better fee this season than final. That growth has helped Edwards change into a crunch-time killer for the Wolves this season, placing him in the working for Clutch Player of the Year.

“It’s incredible when you think about how Ant’s played almost 95 percent of the games (in his career),” coach Chris Finch mentioned earlier than the sport towards Phoenix. “That’s unheard of. This year, we’ve been without him more than in the past. Just gotta regroup. We’ve got to worry about playing better basketball all the way around regardless of who is out there.”

The Wolves additionally depend on Edwards to be a stout perimeter defender, one thing they’ve waxed and gained this season. When he’s locked in, he is likely one of the greatest on-ball defenders in the league, making him a real two-way power. His capability to take over on both finish is the Timberwolves’ superpower, particularly in the playoffs.

With him out, they lose an excessive amount of their identification as they attempt to pull out of a late-season skid, having misplaced 4 of their earlier 5 video games, all by double digits. Now, they’re with out their greatest participant, placing extra stress on Julius Randle to shake freed from his stoop — he had 32 factors in the loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday — and function gamers Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo to select up the scoring slack.

The crew proved as much as the duty on Tuesday evening. Randle put up 32 factors and 7 rebounds, McDaniels had 16 factors, seven boards and 4 assists, and Rudy Gobert had 19 rebounds and 4 blocked pictures because the Wolves held Phoenix to 65 factors over the ultimate three quarters.

“I think me playing at my pace, getting into my flow, getting to my spots, I don’t think anyone can really stop me if I’m getting to my spots,” Randle mentioned. “It was just that.”

Randle now assumes the function of offensive point of interest.

“It’s at the heart of what we do, is really his playmaking and getting us into situations where everyone can benefit,” Finch mentioned.

The Wolves’ offense has stagnated at occasions this season, with Edwards and Randle buying and selling isolation possessions and stunting the ball motion that will get gamers open pictures in rhythm. Without Edwards’ singular scoring punch, the Wolves should deal with growing that motion and passing to create benefits.

Ayo Dosunmu replaces Edwards in the beginning lineup. Dosunmu was acquired in a trade-deadline transfer with Chicago, and he has settled in properly in Minnesota. His velocity, fast decision-making and skill to get downhill have been additive thus far, together with towards the Thunder when he scored 18 factors on 7-of-9 capturing off the bench. He had seven assists in a win over Golden State on Friday, and the Wolves are going to wish playmaking and scoring from him in Edwards’ absence.

“It was exciting just to hear my name called in the starting lineup with the team and hear the fans cheer,” mentioned Dosunmu, who had 19 factors and 5 boards in 34 minutes.

“I was excited, I’m blessed. It’s always a blessing when things you pray for come to fruition, so I’m always honored and grateful.”

Edwards has all the time been a quick healer, and the Wolves will likely be banking on that point round as effectively. Yes, he desires to return to be eligible for awards like All-NBA, however he must be again to provide the Wolves an opportunity to regain the groove they misplaced during the last two weeks and keep out of the Play-In.

“We don’t need one person to try to step in and fill out the scoring,” Finch mentioned. “I think it’s just better if it’s dispersed throughout the lineup.”