MINNEAPOLIS -- Anthony EdwardsPlayer·Anthony Edwards will take the floor without an injury designation for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinalsCompetition·Western Conference Semifinals, the Minnesota TimberwolvesTeam·Minnesota Timberwolves announced Sunday. The star guard, who has battled a left knee bone bruise and hyperextension suffered against the Denver NuggetsTeam·Denver Nuggets in the first round, headlines a clean bill of health alongside Ayo DosunmuPlayer·Ayo Dosunmu as Minnesota hosts the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs at 6:30 p.m. CST on NBC and Peacock.
Down 2-1 after dropping Games 2 and 3, the Timberwolves -- the No. 6 seed in the West with a 49-33 regular-season mark -- desperately need a victory to even the series. Edwards played through a questionable tag in the first three games, logging a postseason-high 41 minutes in Saturday's Game 3 loss despite the knee lingering from an awkward landing in Game 4 versus Denver on April 25. Initially projected to miss weeks, he returned for Game 1 on May 5, erupting for 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to secure a 104-102 win.
The minute restriction that capped him early in the series is gone. Edwards pushed through an intense recovery regimen, crediting his physical therapist for keeping stiffness at bay, and now enters unrestricted. His availability shifts the backcourt dynamic for a Minnesota squad already without Donte DiVincenzoPlayer·Donte DiVincenzo, sidelined by a torn Achilles tendon. DiVincenzo remains the lone name on the injury report.
Dosunmu matches Edwards' positive update. The guard sat Game 1 with a calf strain from the regular season, managed just 10 minutes in Game 2 due to right heel soreness, then gutted out 32 minutes as a questionable in Game 3. His expanded role -- filling the void left by DiVincenzo -- becomes pivotal with the lead point guard out. Both Edwards and Dosunmu elevate a rotation tested by injuries, providing rim pressure, catch-and-shoot opportunities, and switchable defense against San Antonio's versatile attack.
The Spurs, the No. 2 seed at 62-20, have seized momentum behind Victor WembanyamaPlayer·Victor Wembanyama's dominance after Minnesota's Game 1 upset. A Game 4 win pulls the Timberwolves even, reigniting a series where Edwards' playoff experience contrasts San Antonio's youth. His fourth-quarter heroics in the opener underscored the impact: without full health, he still delivered; at full strength, the ceiling rises.
Timberwolves coach Chris FinchCoach·Chris Finch noted progress on Edwards' knee ahead of Game 2, saying the team aimed to ramp up his workload. That experimentation paid off, with Edwards logging heavy minutes sans setback. Dosunmu's clearance adds depth, allowing Minnesota to match San Antonio's pace without load management compromises.
A tied series sends Game 5 back to San Antonio on Tuesday, keeping Minnesota's postseason alive. Edwards' return from what could have been a series-altering injury embodies the Wolves' resilience, positioning them to exploit home-court energy and flip the script on the Spurs' surge.
Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu react during a Timberwolves game. Photo: Anadolu Agency/IMAGO
Anadolu Agency/IMAGOThis article was generated by AI (gemini-2.5-flash). Learn more.
