By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially cleared Anthony Edwards for on-court basketball activities, listing him as questionable for Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, opposite the San Antonio Spurs.
The 24-year-old combo guard sat out the final two games of the previous best-of-seven series against the Denver Nuggets and was initially considered week-to-week after suffering a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. His upgraded status provides a significant boost for the team coached by Chris Finch ahead of the series opener versus the Spurs at the Frost Bank Center on Monday.
French superstar Victor Wembanyama previously expressed sadness over injuries to Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, while also noting his eagerness to face Rudy Gobert, the fellow French starting center of the series. The latter also spoke warmly of the 22-year-old superstar after practice on Saturday.
“First time I met him, he was 13. I was doing an event for kids, like a little basketball tournament, and I remember one of our agents, Jeremy, brought him in,” recalled the 33-year-old big. “I saw his mom and his dad, and I saw how tall his mom was, so I remember telling myself this kid’s going to be very tall.”
“When he was 15, then I started to notice more things, see clips of him, and hear more about him, and because we have the same agents, I was able to really try to help him out early on, and then when he was 16, we met at the clip, so we played a little two-on-two,” he added. “From that time on, it was about preparing him to go to the league, and the rest is history.”
“I think it’s amazing for French basketball,” stressed Gobert, a veteran of 995 NBA games, three-time All-Star, and four-time Defensive Player of the Year. “A younger superstar facing a guy that has been around for a little bit.”
The Wolves remain thinned by injury, as Italian starter DiVincenzo is out following right Achilles tendon repair. Joining Edwards on the questionable list for Game 1 is Ayo Dosunmu, who is dealing with right calf soreness. For the Spurs, rookie Carter Bryant is also listed as questionable due to a right foot sprain.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers
6. New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers
6. San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions