Minnesota Timberwolves fans held their breath Tuesday night as star guard Anthony Edwards suffered an ankle injury late in the first quarter of their Western Conference Finals opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Edwards appeared to twist his right ankle while driving to the basket, causing immediate concern for his availability.
The incident occurred with under a minute remaining in the first period. Edwards was fouled on the play, visibly grabbing at his ankle and displaying discomfort. He managed to shoot his free throws, making one of two, before heading to the locker room for evaluation as the quarter concluded.
Edwards, the Timberwolves' leading scorer and a pivotal player in their playoff run, had a strong start to the game with seven points and three rebounds prior to the injury. His absence during the start of the second quarter fueled speculation about the severity of the issue.
However, Timberwolves fans received a welcome sight when Edwards emerged from the locker room and returned to the bench. After testing his ankle with some light exercises during a timeout, he re-entered the game with 7:01 left in the second quarter. While he didn't appear visibly limited, his offensive impact was noticeably reduced.
Edwards played a team-high 36 minutes but struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with just 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. He did manage to grab nine rebounds and dish out three assists, but the Timberwolves ultimately fell to the Thunder 114-88 in Game 1. Oklahoma City's defense focused intently on Edwards, making it difficult for him to assert his usual offensive dominance.
Despite the evident struggle, Edwards insisted postgame that his ankle did not affect his shooting performance. The Timberwolves will need a healthier and more productive Edwards if they hope to even the series in Game 2.
The Timberwolves will look to bounce back in Game 2, which is slated for Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. The team's performance hinges significantly on Edwards' health and ability to overcome the Thunder's defensive pressure.