Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards expected to suit up for Game 1 against Spurs

SAN ANTONIO — After missing the final two games of Minnesota’s first-round series with a left knee injury, Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is expected to return Monday night for Game 1 against the Spurs. Head coach Chris Finch confirmed Edwards will play, though the All-Star guard is expected to be on a minutes restriction as he continues recovering from a bone bruise suffered when he hyperextended his knee nine days ago. Sources around the team expressed increasing confidence over the weekend that Edwards was progressing faster than expected. While Game 3 had initially been viewed as a realistic return target, Edwards pushed aggressively through rehab and worked his way back ahead of schedule.

The 24-year-old participated in Minnesota’s morning shootaround in San Antonio after getting through multiple light workouts over the weekend. Reporters at shootaround observed Edwards wearing a sleeve on his left knee while testing his movement during shooting drills and step-back jumpers.

Teammates have frequently praised Edwards for his ability to recover quickly from injuries.

“I call him Wolverine,” Julius Randle said Monday. “You’ll see him take a hard fall or get banged up and think he’s seriously hurt, then somehow he’s back up a few minutes later.”

Minnesota will still be shorthanded entering the series opener. Guard Ayo Dosunmu has officially been ruled out with right calf soreness after missing the closeout win over Denver in Game 6. Edwards averaged strong production during the opening-round series before the injury, but the Timberwolves were able to eliminate the Nuggets without him, buying additional recovery time before their second-round matchup against the 62-win Spurs.