Anthony Edwards Cleared For Game 1, Timberwolves Gain Their Most Dangerous Edge Against Nuggets

Anthony Edwards was cleared to play in Saturday’s Game 1 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets, giving Minnesota a major boost as the NBA playoffs opened in Denver. Edwards had been listed as questionable because of right knee injury maintenance, but he took part in warmups and the Timberwolves confirmed before tipoff that he was available.

The update matters because Edwards has spent much of the season managing injuries, and Minnesota has needed to navigate stretches without its leading scorer. He played in only two of the Timberwolves’ final seven regular-season games and three of their last 14, with the right knee becoming the main issue late in the season.

Edwards returns after a limited finish to the season

Edwards was limited to 61 games, with injuries affecting his back, hamstring, foot and shoulder at different points. Even with those setbacks, his availability for Game 1 signals that Minnesota can lean on its top offensive option in a series that already carries a high level of pressure.

Chris Finch said Edwards had shown enough in the buildup to the game to suggest he was ready. “He looks good and feels good right now,” Finch said, adding that the focus now is getting him “in the rhythm of the game.”

Finch also said this was the first season he had seen Edwards deal with an injury that clearly affected his play. He noted that Edwards usually pushes through minor issues, but this knee problem had been different and more disruptive than what had come before.

A key scorer for Minnesota

Edwards enters the series after a strong individual season despite the missed games. He averaged a career-high 28.8 points, along with 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 40% on 514 3-point attempts.

Against Denver during the regular season, Edwards was productive in terms of scoring and playmaking. In three games against the Nuggets, he averaged 30.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5 assists, though his perimeter shooting was less efficient at 26% on 31 3-point attempts.

That balance gives Minnesota a hopeful sign heading into the matchup, especially with Edwards facing a Nuggets team that finished third in the Western Conference at 54-28. The Timberwolves went 49-33 and entered the playoffs as the sixth seed, setting up a first-round series that immediately tests how well Edwards responds after the injury-related absences.

Finch said Edwards has always been highly durable and eager to play, and that remained part of the assessment before Game 1. The Timberwolves now have their leading scorer available, and how quickly he settles into game action could shape the tone of the series from the opening minutes.