Anthony Edwards Set for Right Knee Procedure, Timberwolves Brace for Extended Absence

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday, with recovery expected to keep him sidelined as long as two months, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday. The Athletic reported the team is targeting a December return. Edwards was listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against Golden State with right knee injury maintenance before being downgraded to out.

The procedure follows a 47-point performance in Monday's overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Edwards was seen grabbing the knee during Sunday's win over Toronto. The knee has been an issue before: he missed the final game of Minnesota's first-round playoff win over Denver last year with a hyperextension, then came off the bench for Game 1 of the conference semifinals against San Antonio. The Athletic reported he received around-the-clock treatment and had the knee drained several times to stay available, and that he said in the preseason he took most of two months off to let both knees heal.

Minnesota is 3-1 and Edwards is averaging 33.3 points per game, leading the league with 18 3-pointers at a 40% rate, including games of 45 and 47 points. LaMelo Ball arrived from Charlotte in a June trade and is averaging 14.8 points, down from more than 20 with the Hornets last year. 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.

Jaden McDaniels carries a five-year, $136 million contract and a one-year, $40 million extension Minnesota signed, setting his base figure for another possible extension in 2028. He is averaging 15 points on 59% shooting and 42% from 3. Last year he scored 32 points with 10 rebounds in Game 6 against Denver without Edwards. Terrence Shannon Jr. has started the season strongly, Jonathan Kuminga is in a contract year, and Ayo Dosunmu is a double-digit scorer. Donte DiVincenzo is rehabbing a torn Achilles.

The schedule offers some relief. Before Christmas, the Wolves face six games against top-tier opponents: the Spurs, Rockets, Knicks, Thunder, and the Lakers twice. Sixteen of their next 26 games are at home, including an eight-game homestand in November.