Minnesota Timberwolves superstar wing Anthony Edwards injured his left ankle during the first half of Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinal home matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, May 8. While his status was initially in question, the three-time All-Star was cleared to play in the second half.
Anthony Edwards Returns for 2nd Half of Critical Game 2 vs. Warriors
In the second quarter, Edwards drove to the basket and crashed to the floor, with Warriors big man Trayce Jackson-Davis landing hard on his left ankle. He then stayed on the ground, grimacing and clutching his ankle for an extended period.
The fifth-year player later needed to be assisted to the locker room and could be seen limping through the tunnel. Edwards was initially listed as questionable to return due to a left ankle sprain, sparking concern that his night could be over. However, he opted to power through the setback, with his squad trailing 1-0 in the best-of-seven series.
Anthony Edwards is now injured
Just put the series on hold for a week 😔 pic.twitter.com/fhdrmtUyt1
— Sports Fights🪖 (@TheSportsBrawls) May 9, 2025
During halftime, Edwards re-entered the court to thunderous applause from fans at Target Center. He proceeded to test out his left ankle via a series of stretching exercises before deciding to give it a go. The TNT crew then confirmed Edwards’ return, increasing intrigue for the second half.
Golden State is already without superstar point guard Stephen Curry, who is set to be re-evaluated in one week due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. Thus, the two-time MVP will miss at least three outings. If Edwards’ left ankle injury was similarly severe, it likely would have put a damper on the series from an entertainment perspective.
Minnesota led 56-39 at halftime before Edwards’ return, looking considerably better than during their woeful 99-88 Game 1 home loss on Tuesday, May 6. The Timberwolves finished that contest shooting just 34-for-86 (39.5%), including 5-for-29 from 3-point range (17.2%).
Edwards Looking To Shake Off Playoff Shooting Slump
Edwards struggled mightily in the first half of Game 1, recording just one point on 0-for-8 shooting before rebounding for 22 second-half points. That came after he managed 15 points on only 5-for-19 shooting (26.3%) to close out Minnesota’s five-game first-round series victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Additionally, before injuring his ankle in Game 2, Edwards recorded seven points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals, one block, and one 3, shooting just 2-for-7 (28.6%).
As such, the 2020 No. 1 draft pick will look to break out of his playoff shooting slump over the remainder of Round 2. However, his ankle injury could inhibit his chances of doing so.