Anthony Edwards expected to play Game 1

Anthony Edwards is in for Game 1, and that changes the shape of this series right away. Minnesota had been bracing for at least the start of Round 2 without (sports.yahoo.com)an Antonio. (espn.com) ### What changed to(nba.com) in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Spurs on Monday, May 4. Chris Finch confirmed he was in the lineup after earlier reporting had moved him from doubtful territory to expected to play. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Why was this surprising? Because the original injury sounded like the kind that usually lingers into the next round. Edwards hyperextended his left knee in Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series against Denver and was diagnosed with a bone bruise as well. The initial timeline said he would be out at least one week. (nba.com) ### How fast is this return? Very fast. Edwards is back nine days after the knee injury, which is why so many of the early Game 1 conversations were framed around Minnesota surviving without him. Instead, the Wolves get their star guard before the series even starts. (espn([sports.yahoo.com)out him? Shot creation, basically. Edwards missed the final two games of the Denver series, and even when a team survives that kind of absence, the offense changes. Minnesota can still defend and grind, but Edwards is the guy who bends a defense, gets downhill, and turns a stuck possession into a real scoring chance. The Wo(nba.com)e in the postseason before the injury update. (usatoday.com) ### Does “available” mean full strength? Not automatically. Play(espn.com)s and bone bruises can be manageable in bursts but still affect explosion, comfort, and stamina. So the real question in Game 1 is not just whether Edwards suits up — it’s whether he can be himself for 35-plus playoff minutes. That part only the game can answer. (nba.com) ### Why does this matter against San Antonio? Because the Spurs are not the matchup you want to ease into shorthanded. A team can hide missi(usatoday.com)he clock. Edwards gives them all three, even if he is not at 100%. (nba.com) ### What should you watch first? Watch the burst. First step, lift at the rim, and whether Edwards looks comfortable planting on that left leg tell you more than the box score will in the first quarter. If he is attacking without hesitation, Minnesota’s offense looks a lot more like the version it expected to bring into Round 2. (nba.com) ### Bottom line This is not just a nice injury update. It is a real playoff swing. Minnesota went from preparing for a compromised opener to getting Anthony Edwards back before the series even tipped, and that gives the Timberwolves a much higher ceiling immediately. (sports.yahoo.com)))