On Tuesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves holding their breath as Anthony Edwards, their rising star, encountered a scare on the court.
During the second quarter of their matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, Edwards found himself in distress, requiring assistance off the court due to an apparent ankle injury.
The moment unfolded as Edwards attempted a sharp cut toward the center of the court to create an opening for a pass, only to crumple to the floor, clearly in pain, his ankle seemingly twisted.
Fortunately, despite the worrying sight, Edwards managed to make a return to the court to commence the second half, demonstrating resilience despite the discomfort.
Ant helped to locker room after apparent ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/hGbmaqshQI
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 28, 2024
Before his departure to the locker room, Edwards had already made his mark on the game, tallying 18 points, along with two rebounds and two assists in the initial half.
This incident comes amidst what has been a generally healthy season for the 22-year-old, save for a previous setback earlier in the year due to a hip ailment.
Throughout the current campaign, Edwards has been on a trajectory toward his best season yet, boasting impressive averages of 26.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game across 54 appearances. His shooting percentages from both the field (46.8%) and beyond the arc (38.4%) further underscore his impactful presence on the court.
For the Timberwolves, who find themselves embroiled in a heated race for the top seed in the Western Conference, Edwards’ health is of paramount importance. As they aim to secure home-court advantage potentially through the conference final, his contributions become even more indispensable.
At the time of Tuesday’s game, Minnesota sat atop the Western Conference standings with a notable 40-17 record. However, their lead was precarious, with the Oklahoma City Thunder closely trailing with an identical record, while the Denver Nuggets lingered just 1.5 games behind.
In the event of Edwards being sidelined for any duration, the onus would fall on players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jordan McLaughlin to step up and fill the void, likely seeing an uptick in playing time as a result.
