SI flags Edwards, Dončić injury concerns
- Anthony Edwards beat the timeline and played in Game 1 for Minnesota, but Luka Dončić was ruled out as the Lakers opened round two in Oklahoma City. - Edwards came off the bench and played 25 minutes in a Wolves win over San Antonio; Dončić is still out with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. - That flips the original worry a bit — Edwards is managing pain, but Dončić remains the bigger series-shaping absence.
The second-round injury story changed fast. Anthony Edwards was supposed to miss the start of Minnesota’s series with San Antonio, then he suited up anyway and helped the Timberwolves steal Game 1. Luka Dončić went the other direction — the concern held, and the Lakers opened their series against Oklahoma City without him. So the headline now is less “two stars are in trouble” and more “one star forced his way back, while the other is still stuck waiting.” (nba.com) ### What changed with Edwards? Edwards hurt his left knee in the first round against Denver — a hyperextension with a deep bone bruise — and early reporting pointed to him missing at least the first two games of the Spurs series. But he pushed through rehab much faster than expected, got medical clearance shortly before tipoff, and played in Game 1 on May 5. That is the big shift from the original fear. (nba.com) ### How limited was he? Minnesota did not just throw him back into a normal playoff workload. Edwards came off the bench and was capped at 25 minutes in a tight game, which tells you the knee is still being managed even if he is technically available. That matters because “active” and “fully back” are not the same thing in May. (espn.com) ### Why does that still matter for Minnesota? Because the Wolves were already trying to survive one injury squeeze. Donte DiVincenzo is out with a torn Achilles, and Edwards is the player who settles everything when possessions get ugly. He said being out there calms everybody down — and you could see the logic. E(espn.com)io had to honor every trip. (espn.ph) ### What is the Dončić situation? This one is cleaner, but worse. Dončić suffered a strained left hamstring on April 2 against Oklahoma City, and the injury has lingered long enough that he has now missed the entire playoffs so far. The Lakers officially ruled him out for Game 1 of the West semifinals, and multiple (espn.ph)ovement to come back intact. (usatoday.com) ### Why is a hamstring different here? A bone bruise can be brutal, but players sometimes manage it through pain tolerance and controlled minutes. A Grade 2 hamstring strain is trickier because it attacks exactly what makes Dončić dangerous — stop-start pace, balance, deceleration, and (usatoday.com)tive. (espn.com) ### Which injury is the bigger playoff problem now? Right now, it is Dončić’s. Edwards has already crossed the most important threshold — he is back on the floor, even if the Wolves still need to meter his minutes. Dončić has not crossed that threshold yet. Until he does, the Lakers are trying to solve the top-seeded Thunder without their offensive center of gravity. (espn.com) ### So what should you watch next? For Edwards, watch minutes before points. If that number climbs from 25 toward a normal starter load, Minnesota’s concern is easing. For Dončić, watch practice participation and whether he can return at all in this series. That is the real hinge now. One injury is becoming a management problem. The other is still an availability problem. (espn.com) ### Bottom line? Sports Illustrated’s warning was directionally right, but the picture has already split. Edwards is hurt but playing. Dončić is hurt and still out. In the second round, that difference is everything. (msn.com)
