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05/09 00:09 CDT Anthony Edwards scares the Timberwolves with a sprained ankle
before returning in strong finish
Anthony Edwards scares the Timberwolves with a sprained ankle before returning
in strong finish
By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) --- The Minnesota Timberwolves have seen Anthony Edwards
writhing in pain on the floor several times throughout his career, before
eventually welcoming their star guard back to the game.
This looked a little different. The sprained left ankle that forced Edwards out
in the second quarter of Game 2 against Golden State on Thursday night even
gave him a scare.
"This one, I was really worried about, actually," coach Chris Finch said.
"There are lots of ways being an elite athlete pays off. Being able to shake
those things off is certainly one of them. But this one, I was really planning
on not seeing him the rest of the game, to be honest with you."
Edwards managed to make it back yet again, causing a roar from the crowd when
he walked back onto the court for warmups right before the start of the second
half. The 23-year-old finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and
three steals for the Timberwolves in the 117-93 victory over the Warriors that
tied the second-round series.
"That one was crazy," Edwards said. "But I'll be all right."
Edwards tried to finish a fast break with a layup that Warriors center Trayce
Jackson-Davis blocked before landing on Edwards' left foot as they both came
down.
Edwards immediately grabbed for his ankle as he sat on the floor under the
basket. He was unable to put weight on his left foot as he was eventually
helped off the court, after Golden State's Draymond Green even came over to
check on him.
Once Edwards reached the locker room, David Hines, the vice president for
medical operations and performance therapy, went to work.
"Once we got to like the third movement in my ankle, I'm like, ?All right, it's
starting to feel good. If we tape it, I'll see how it feels,'" Edwards said.
"He does a great job of making sure I'm good before I get out there, so big
shoutout to David."
Edwards, a three-time All-Star who was fourth in the NBA in scoring during the
regular season, had just seven points on 2-for-7 shooting before he got hurt.
His production once he returned was strong enough to assure the Wolves and
their fans there wasn't anything to worry about moving forward in the series.
Edwards went up to catch a lob from Julius Randle and dropped it in for a layup
late in the third quarter, passing an important test for his ankle.
"Superman, for real," teammate Jaden McDaniels said.
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