Timberwolves Rest Stars, Including Anthony Edwards, for Regular-Season Finale

Minnesota secures playoff spot, sits key players like Edwards ahead of postseason

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:22pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players and court in an abstract, deconstructed style.The Timberwolves prioritize rest and recovery over the final regular-season game, resting their stars to prepare for a playoff push.New Orleans Today

The Minnesota Timberwolves will rest several key players, including star guard Anthony Edwards, for their regular-season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. With the Timberwolves already locked into the playoffs, the team is prioritizing player health and recovery over the final game of the regular season.

Why it matters

Edwards has been a driving force behind the Timberwolves' success this season, averaging nearly 29 points per game. Resting him and other starters reflects the team's focus on the playoffs, where they will look to make a deep run after securing a postseason berth.

The details

The Timberwolves enter the game with a 48-33 record, good for the 6th seed in the Western Conference. With their playoff spot already clinched, the team has decided to sit Edwards and other key players like Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell to manage their workload and avoid potential injuries ahead of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Pelicans, who are 26-55 and out of playoff contention, will also be missing several players due to injuries and shutdown decisions as their season comes to a close.

  • The Timberwolves and Pelicans face off on Sunday, April 12, 2026 to conclude the regular season.

The players

Anthony Edwards

The Timberwolves' star guard, who is averaging 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season.

Karl-Anthony Towns

The Timberwolves' All-Star center, who will also be rested for the regular-season finale.

D'Angelo Russell

The Timberwolves' starting point guard, who is another key player being rested for the game.

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What they’re saying

“With our playoff spot secured, it's the right call to give our guys some rest and recovery time before the postseason begins.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

The Timberwolves will begin their NBA Playoff run in the coming weeks, looking to make a deep postseason run after a successful regular season.

The takeaway

The Timberwolves' decision to rest their star players for the regular-season finale reflects a prudent approach to managing player health and recovery ahead of the playoffs, where the team will look to build on its successful campaign.