Anthony Edwards to Miss Two Months for Knee Surgery

Anthony Edwards will be out of action for up to two months following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. ESPN's Shams Charania reported the expected recovery timeline, while The Athletic confirmed the Timberwolves are targeting a return in December. The procedure is scheduled for Thursday.

The injury news followed closely on the heels of a high-scoring game. Edwards scored 47 points in an overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. He was listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to right knee injury maintenance before being ruled out. The team opted to address the issue early in the season rather than have him continue playing on a damaged joint.

This is the same knee that affected Edwards during the previous season. He was seen holding the area during Sunday's victory over the Toronto Raptors. Last year, he missed the final game of Minnesota's first-round playoff win over the Denver Nuggets due to a hyperextension. He returned to the bench for Game 1 of the conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs. The Athletic noted he received around-the-clock treatment and had the knee drained multiple times to remain active. Edwards stated during the preseason that he took two months off to allow both knees to heal.

The Timberwolves enter this period with a 3-1 record. The team has appeared among the league's top contenders, driven by the partnership between Edwards and LaMelo Ball. Ball joined from the Charlotte Hornets in a June trade. Edwards averages 33.3 points per game and leads the league with 18 three-pointers made at a 40% clip. His scoring totals have included 45 and 47 points in recent games.

The absence of Edwards shifts the offensive burden to Ball. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Wolves have played at a rate that would rank in the bottom 10 over 74 non-garbage-time possessions with Ball on the floor and Edwards off it. Ball averaged more than 20 points per game last season with the Hornets. His current average stands at 14.8 points per game, a drop partly attributed to Edwards' dominance on the offense.

Other players must step up to fill the void. Donte DiVincenzo is rehabbing a torn Achilles. Terrence Shannon Jr. has started the season strongly. Jonathan Kuminga has an opportunity to strengthen his case for a long-term contract. Ayo Dosunmu, a double-digit scorer and three-point shooter, also has room for improvement.

Jaden McDaniels may be the most critical factor. Minnesota signed him to a one-year, $40 million extension that sets his base figure for another potential extension in 2028. He is currently on a five-year, $136 million contract. McDaniels averages 15 points per game on 59% shooting. He is making 42% of his three-point attempts. With a likely increase in usage and Ball's ability to elevate teammates, McDaniels could surpass 20 points per game and pursue an All-Star spot. Last year, he scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Game 6 against Denver without Edwards.

The schedule provides some assistance before the holidays. The Timberwolves face only six games against top-tier opponents before Christmas. Those opponents include the Spurs, Rockets, Knicks, Thunder, and the Lakers twice. The team will have limited margin for error against groups like Portland and Memphis. However, 16 of their next 26 games are scheduled at home, which includes an eight-game homestand in November.