Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards out after knee surgery
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Anthony Edwards needs surgery on his right knee. He could miss up to two months of action.
- LaMelo Ball now leads the Timberwolves attack. Jonathan Kuminga takes a bigger scoring role too.
- Minnesota met Golden State in its first game without Edwards. The Wolves started the season 3-1.
Minnesota has lost its best scorer. Anthony Edwards needs surgery on his right knee. The Timberwolves will play without him for weeks.
Google Trends shows strong searches for this game. Fans in the US, Britain, and Australia searched most. The injury news sits at the heart of the story.
What happened
Edwards hurt his knee some time ago. The pain stayed with him since last season's playoffs. Doctors now say he needs arthroscopic surgery.
Arthroscopic surgery is a small keyhole operation. Surgeons use tiny tools to clean up damage inside the knee. It is less invasive than open surgery.
The news broke after Monday's game in Cleveland. Edwards scored 47 points in that game. Minnesota still lost 127-125 to the Cavaliers.
It was the team's first loss this season. Rudy Gobert pulled down 20 rebounds in the defeat. The loss left Minnesota at 3-1.
Edwards is the team's top scorer and leader. ClutchPoints called him the team's best player. His absence leaves a big gap in the attack.
The game tipped at 8 in the evening Eastern Time. It took place at Target Center in Minneapolis.
It is Minnesota's first game without Edwards. Golden State arrived with a 1-3 record.
Why it matters
Minnesota built its attack around Edwards. He draws defenders and creates shots for others. Without him, every other player must do more.
LaMelo Ball now takes the lead role. Ball joined Minnesota from the Charlotte Hornets. He averaged 20.8 points per game across six seasons there, according to Basketball Reference.
Ball has scored 14.8 points per game so far in Minnesota. His role grows now. He ran the attack in Charlotte for years.
Jonathan Kuminga also steps up. Golden State of Mind says he becomes the second scorer. He faces his former team on Wednesday night.
Bones Hyland backs the group to cope. He said the team is deep. "One of our warriors go down, we just step up," Hyland said.
Hyland should get more minutes off the bench. Ayo Dosunmu should move into the starting five.
Terrence Shannon Jr. should also play more.
The bench must now produce points every night. That is a big ask for young players. But Hyland says the group trusts each other.
The Warriors have their own injury list. Jimmy Butler is out after knee surgery. Moses Moody is out after tendon surgery.
Kristaps Porzingis is not with the team. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is questionable with a sore foot. He averages 21.8 points per game so far.
Lendeborg also grabs 9.3 rebounds per game. He has made a fast start to his career. His fitness is a key question for Golden State.
Golden State won its first game on Monday against Denver. The Warriors beat Denver 134-114 on the road. Lendeborg scored 31 points in that win.
Stephen Curry scored 24 points in Denver. The Warriors started the season 1-3. They need wins to climb the West standings.
The two teams met last season too. Minnesota won that season series 3-1. Both teams split their games in Minneapolis.
Donte DiVincenzo is also out for Minnesota. He had surgery to repair his Achilles tendon. He may return late in the season.
That leaves Minnesota short at guard. Ball, Kuminga, and Hyland must fill the gap. The team depth faces a real test now.
What happens next
Edwards will have surgery, then rehab. Rehab means slow training to rebuild strength. No single return date has been agreed yet.
USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire put the absence at up to two months. Golden State of Mind said he could be out until around the new year. Both reports point to a long layoff.
Minnesota must hold its form until he returns. The next weeks will test the team's depth. Ball and Kuminga must score night after night.
Gobert must anchor the defense inside. He already leads the team on the boards. His work near the basket matters more now.
The Warriors also need healthy bodies soon. Butler and Moody are out long term. The three sidelined Warriors should stay on the injury report for now.
Fans also watched other games on Wednesday night. The Knicks visited the Bulls in Chicago. Both teams chase early season form.
The Timberwolves season is still young. A 3-1 start gives them room to cope. But a long Edwards layoff changes the team's ceiling.
Edwards will be missed most on big nights. Minnesota must find new ways to score. The next weeks will show how deep this team truly is.
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