Anthony Edwards made his long-awaited return from a six-game absence on Monday night. He wasted no time making headlines before he even stepped on the court. The Minnesota Timberwolves star was announced in the starting lineup for the team’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
But when tip-off arrived, Edwards was nowhere to be found.
Why Anthony Edwards Missed the Start of Monday’s Game
Veteran guard Mike Conley filled in at the opening tip with no explanation given in the moment, leaving fans and broadcasters briefly puzzled. Edwards eventually checked in 1 minute and 1 second into the game, but the mystery of his absence did not last long.
Coach Chris Finch kept it simple in his postgame news conference. “Nature calls, I guess,” he said.
Edwards was equally candid. “I was taking a s***,” he told reporters with a grin, adding that Conley had his back.
It is the second time since his rookie year that Edwards has come off the bench in a game, with a similar situation unfolding in March 2024 at Target Center. He checked in just 35 seconds into a game after losing track of time.
Despite the unconventional start, Edwards looked every bit like himself in his first game back from right knee pain.
He played 23 minutes, scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, threw down two dunks, hit two 3-pointers, and was dominant defensively in Minnesota’s commanding 124-94 win. The Wolves won by 30 points. Finch summed up the performance simply.
“Ant was awesome, man. His defense was outstanding. Just let the game come to him. Stayed aggressive. Made quicker decisions. And things looked kind of easy for him as a result,” he said.
What Edwards’ Return Means for the Timberwolves
The Wolves are currently in a tight race with the Denver Nuggets for the fourth position. Naturally, they badly needed Edwards back. A fourth-place finish would secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, while slipping to sixth would likely mean a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Edwards is averaging a career-high 29.3 points in 35.3 minutes per game this season and will need to play all seven of Minnesota’s remaining games to reach the 65-game threshold for All-NBA eligibility, a milestone that carries significant implications for his contract and legacy.
Finch has not ruled out playing him on back-to-back nights, saying the team would first monitor how he responds to Monday’s workload.
The Wolves are also dealing with the loss of Jaden McDaniels, who is week-to-week after an MRI revealed left knee patella tendinopathy and a bone bruise. He averaged a career-high 14.8 points per game before the injury.
Minnesota’s next major test comes Thursday in Detroit against the East-leading Pistons, a game that will tell a lot about where the Wolves stand heading into the postseason.
