Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards ready for Nuggets series despite knee injury

Minnesota head coach Chris Finch says star guard was 'full-go' in practice ahead of first-round matchup

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:19am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in mid-jump shot, with the player's body broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the team colors of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the dynamic athleticism of Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards as he prepares to face the Nuggets in the NBA playoffs.Denver Today

The Minnesota Timberwolves will have star guard Anthony Edwards available for their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, despite the 24-year-old missing 11 of the final 14 regular-season games due to a knee injury. Head coach Chris Finch confirmed that Edwards participated fully in practice and is ready to go for the series opener.

Why it matters

Edwards is the Timberwolves' leading scorer and one of the NBA's rising young stars. His availability is crucial for Minnesota to have a chance of upsetting the third-seeded Nuggets, who boast reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and All-Star Jamal Murray. The Timberwolves have dealt with several key injuries down the stretch, so getting Edwards back at full strength is a major boost for their playoff hopes.

The details

Edwards, 24, averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game during the regular season, along with 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He missed significant time late in the year due to a knee injury, but Finch said the dynamic guard was 'full-go' in practice on Friday, indicating he is ready to return for the playoff series against Denver.

  • The Timberwolves finished the regular season as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference with a 45-37 record.
  • Minnesota will face the No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for April 16, 2026.

The players

Anthony Edwards

The 24-year-old guard is the Minnesota Timberwolves' leading scorer and one of the NBA's rising young stars, averaging a career-high 28.8 points per game this season.

Chris Finch

The head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who confirmed that Edwards participated fully in practice and is ready to play in the first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic

The reigning NBA MVP, who leads the third-seeded Denver Nuggets alongside fellow All-Star Jamal Murray.

Jamal Murray

The All-Star guard for the Denver Nuggets, who forms a formidable duo with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.

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What they’re saying

“Ant was full-go today.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

The Timberwolves and Nuggets will tip off their first-round playoff series on April 16, 2026. Minnesota will need a healthy Anthony Edwards to have a chance of upsetting the third-seeded Nuggets, who are led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and All-Star Jamal Murray.

The takeaway

Anthony Edwards' return to full health is a crucial development for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they prepare to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Edwards' dynamic scoring ability will be key if the Timberwolves hope to pull off the upset against the star-studded Nuggets.