The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ playoff run took a terrifying turn in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets.
Anthony Edwards, the franchise cornerstone and the heartbeat of Minnesota’s postseason hopes, limped off the court late in the second quarter with a left knee injury leaving an entire fanbase holding its breath and praying the worst is not confirmed.
Anthony Edwards’ Left Knee Hyperextension Explained
With 2:45 left in the first half, Edwards leaped to contest a Cameron Johnson fast-break layup and landed awkwardly, his left knee hyperextending under the full force of his weight.
He was visibly in agony, needing assistance from the medical staff just to exit the court. Sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer was quick to share a sobering outlook on the injury.
“This is a hyperextension for Anthony Edwards. That’s the description of what we are seeing happen to his knee,” Sutterer explained, noting that the degree appeared to be around 30 to 45 degrees â a “very, very significant” amount.
Sutterer raised particular concern about a valgus force on the knee, which can increase the risk of ACL and PCL tears. “I will be stunned if he doesn’t miss at least a handful of games here. Where they’re at in this series, I would be surprised if we see him back in the first round,” he warned.
If there is one name that gives Timberwolves fans a reason to breathe, it is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Back in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, the Greek Freak suffered a nearly identical left knee hyperextension against the Atlanta Hawks, limped off, did not return, and had the entire basketball world fearing the worst. Then, just 11 days later, he walked out for NBA Finals Game 1 and dropped 20 points and 17 rebounds.
The Three-Outcome Nightmare For Minnesota Timberwolves
GettyMinnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards during an NBA game.
The Anthony Edwards injury is potentially a nightmare scenario for the Timberwolves. The graphic left-knee hyperextension, combined with visible agony as he was helped to the locker room points to three possible outcomes:
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Best case:Â Minor sprain or bone bruise â 1 to 7 days
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Realistic:Â Significant bone contusion â 2 to 4 weeks
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Worst case:Â ACL or PCL ligament damage â season-ending
As Sutterer bluntly summarized, “At a minimum, you’re going to have a severe amount of bone bruising. Even a mild bone bruise is often a couple of weeks â and Game 7 is in 7 days.”
Fellow sports medicine expert Dr. Evan Jeffries echoed the concern: “Worst case scenario: ACL tear. Best case scenario: bone bruise/joint capsule injury.”
With Game 5 on Monday and Game 6 on Thursday, the most optimistic speculation suggests Edwards could potentially miss just two games, though many medical observers believe even that timeline is aggressive.
Can The Minnesota Timberwolves Survive Without Edwards?
GettyAnthony Edwards suffered a scary knee hyperextension in the playoffs
Remarkably, the Timberwolves may have more resilience than expected. Minnesota owned an impressive 8-4 record without Edwards during the regular season. Ayo Dosunmu delivered a staggering 43-point performance to help the Wolves survive Game 4 even after Edwards’ exit, keeping Minnesota in control of the series.
Coach Chris Finch has long preached depth: “We have a pretty experienced group of guys. We keep our floor pretty high.”
The hope is simply that the damage stops at bone bruising, not a structural tear that could rob Edwards of the rest of his postseason and beyond.
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