The Minnesota Timberwolves have their work cut out for Game 2 when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder. Anthony Edwards suffered an ankle injury in Game 1 and returned to the locker room. He tweaked his ankle after getting fouled and immediately winced in pain.
Moreover, Edwards left for the locker room but eventually returned to play in the game. Without him, the Timberwolves will stumble to get past OKC’s offensive arsenal. The Thunder could hurt the Timberwolves in many ways, and losing Edwards would be a vital blow to Minnesota. So, will he make it to Game 2 after the ankle injury?
Will Anthony Edwards Play in Game 2 for the Timberwolves?
It looks like Edwards will play in Game 2, as there are no reports of him being listed as “questionable.”
Early in Game 1, he immediately grabbed his ankle and looked to exit. Edwards returned, though, with 7:01 left in the second quarter. He worked around the touchline by doing some exercises to get back on the floor, but Edwards didn’t have the same effect we’re accustomed to seeing.
Edwards finished the game with 18 points, shooting 38.5% from the floor and 3-of-8 from 3-point range. He also finished with the second-most turnovers for the game (4), behind his teammate Julius Randle (5). Those drives to the baskets faded after the injury, but Edwards did total nine rebounds in the game, showcasing his importance to the Timberwolves.
A tweaked ankle takes a week or so to heal, typically, indicating Edwards will likely be in some pain if he plays in Game 2. However, he’s crucial to the system, and the Timberwolves would need him fit and firing for the next game.
Without a shadow of a doubt, if Edwards plays, the Timberwolves have a chance. Sure, they have Randle and Rudy Gobert on the floor, but Edwards is Minnesota’s X-factor, as shown by his explosive nature on the court.
In these playoffs, he has averaged 25.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. Edwards has even pickpocketed players with 1.4 steals this postseason.
The central part of the game is handling the ball and driving to the basket. Edwards attacks the rim at will and picks up spots for easy looks. Meanwhile, his 3-point shooting remains one of the critical points for the Timberwolves. He’s made 3.5 3-pointers in these playoffs and drains buckets at the right time for the Wolves.
Edwards’ ability to get to ISO gives him an advantage, and he uses his immaculate footwork to create space, becoming an all-around offensive threat. Therefore, he’s the player who could deliver the goods for the Timberwolves and get them back in this series.
