Timberwolves Star Questionable for Season Opener

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Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

After a second straight loss in the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for better fortunes this season. Advancing to the NBA Finals would be the first trip in franchise history, and it would also be reflective of Anthony Edwards taking another step forward.

The franchise spent recent days unveiling exciting new uniforms and accessories for fans. What they may not be able to unveil on Wednesday night in Portland is a full starting lineup.

Anthony Edwards dealing with back spasms

Fans will need to wait a bit longer to see the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center this season. The team starts on the road, and it’s possible that Anthony Edwards misses the first game.

Last season, for the third straight year, Edwards played in 79 games for the Timberwolves. He missed just three regular season contests, and back spasms don’t seem like a malady he’d miss opening night for. That said, Minnesota has title hopes and won’t be sacrificing regular season availability when it may have long-term implications.

Edwards averaged a career-high 36.3 minutes per game last season. He also led the league in three pointers and shot 39.5% from deep. His 27.6 points per game were a career-high and he finished seventh in NBA MVP voting for the second straight season.

Dubbed “Hunting Season” by Slam magazine as their latest cover star, Edwards has been working at his craft all offseason. It will be exciting to see what the next step looks like for the budding superstar.

Now with Nickeil Alexander-Walker out of the rotation, Chris Finch will need to integrate Terrence Shannon Jr. into a larger role. How he combines with Edwards will certainly matter, and the second-year player can help to quarterback a unit off the bench.

How much rookies Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky factor in remains to be seen, and Finch is often slow to play his youth. However, Edwards and Julius Randle will need help to take this team to the next level. Health on their end, and production from the fringes of the roster is a must.

After a pair of west coast road contests, Minnesota tips off their home slate on October 26 against the Indiana Pacers.

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