The semi-finals of the Western Conference between the Warriors and Timberwolves was already broken down a superstar with Stephen Curry until at least match 5, and he briefly lost another when Anthony Edwards drink in the locker room on Thursday evening in match 2.
Edwards, the 23-year-old manager of Timberwolves and already one of the best players in the league, had to be helped in the middle of the ground during the second quarter after Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on the left ankle defending a on-board attempt.
Edwards was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle, and the Timberwolves considered him questionable to come back, but he spent less than six minutes of play in the locker room before returning to court to start the second half. He finished with 20 points – 13 in the second period – and completed his statistics line with nine rebounds, five assists and three interceptions in 34 minutes while the Timberwolves equalized the series with a victory of 117-93.
“This one who really worried me,” said Minnesota coach Chris Finch. “There are many ways to be an elite athlete is bearing fruit, and being able to shake these things is certainly one. This one, I really planned not to see him the rest of the game.”
Jackson-Davis was trying to defend the reader and landed at the left ankle of Edwards, who rolled under the weight of the second year 6-inch and 245 pounds from the Warriors. Edwards remained on the ground under the basket for the offensive possession of Golden State at the other end of the prosecution, and Finch finally called the waiting period to bring it out of the field with 5:56 remaining in the quarter.
Playing without curry, which set out its left hamstrings in match 1, the Warriors were already in a big hole when Edwards left the match. They dragged 37-19 when he went to the locker room and dropped 56-39 at halftime. Edwards tested the ankle during the intermission and took its place on the ground to start the second half.
Invited to provide an ankle update after the match, Edwards told TNT that he “felt good”.
While Edwards was silent in the Warriors’ victory in match 1 – and was called by Finch afterwards – he was on average 26.8 points and played 41 minutes per game in the victory in the first round of Minnesota against the Lakers. His absence would mean as much for the Timberwolves as that of Curry for Golden State.
Edwards overcome another fear of the injury during this series, when LeBron James plunged into his legs while pursuing a loose ball in match 4. While Edwards avoided the worst case of the collision, that made him twist his ankle – the same he walked on Thursday evening.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
