By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA’s season-ending awards landscape adjusted on Thursday as Anthony Edwards was officially sidelined for the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ 113-108 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Initially listed as questionable, Ant was downgraded just before tipoff due to right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and illness. This confirms he will fall short of the league’s 65-game threshold, joining a list of ineligible stars including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Stephen Curry. The restriction also affects Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, who remains out with a collapsed lung.
The shorthanded clash of the 2025-26 Regular Season at Little Caesars Arena highlighted the impact of these absences. Without Edwards’ scoring punch, Minnesota’s European starters struggled to find a rhythm. France’s Rudy Gobert was held to six points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes, while Italy’s Donte DiVincenzo managed only five points in 30 minutes of action. In reserve options across both sides, France’s Joan Beringer did not see action and Sweden’s Bobi Klintman remained in the G League.
The game’s intensity stayed high despite the missing star power, reaching a boiling point late in the third quarter with Detroit holding a narrow two-point lead. Minnesota’s Bones Hyland was assessed a technical foul for elbowing Marcus Sasser, who received a technical foul of his own for responding with a shove.
After falling to 46-30 and remaining sixth on the Western Conference standings, the team coached by Chris Finch completes a three-game road trip against the Philadelphia 76ers in Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday. The leaders of the Eastern Conference also resume action in Philadelphia, but on Saturday.