Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards to Miss Time with Knee Soreness.

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was sidelined for Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns due to right knee soreness, with the team indicating he will be reevaluated in one to two weeks. An MRI conducted by Dr. Craig Bennett at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine revealed inflammation in Edwards’ right knee, prompting the team to monitor his progress and provide updates as available. The Timberwolves face a critical stretch in the Western Conference playoff race, currently holding sixth place. Phoenix, two games behind Minnesota entering the matchup, suffered another loss to the Timberwolves, though the Suns maintain a 2-1 series advantage against Minnesota this season. Coach Chris Finch emphasized the team’s need to adapt despite Edwards’ absence, noting the guard’s durability in past seasons. “We’ve been here before,” Finch said. “Ant has played almost 95 percent of the games he’s been available for, which is remarkable. This year we’ve missed him more than in the past. We need to focus on team play and distributing scoring throughout the lineup.” Finch added that the decision to sit Edwards was made after consultation with the team’s medical staff and doctors, beyond his own authority. The Timberwolves had lost four of their previous five games, including a Sunday contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder in which Minnesota committed 25 turnovers. Edwards scored 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting in that game but appeared limited by his knee, attempting just one field goal in the fourth quarter.

Edwards, 24, leads the team in scoring this season, averaging 29.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with shooting percentages of 49.2 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from three-point range. While he has missed only nine games over the past three seasons, this year he has already sat out ten contests and appeared in only 57 qualifying games for end-of-season awards. With 14 games remaining, he can miss no more than six to remain eligible.