Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards Sidelined for at Least a Week with Right Hamstring Strain

Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards will be sidelined for at least one week after suffering a strained right hamstring during the team’s home opener on Sunday night against the Indiana Pacers. The injury occurred just minutes into the first quarter, forcing the three-time All-Star to leave the game early.

An MRI scan conducted on Monday confirmed the strain, according to reports from ESPN. The Timberwolves later announced that Edwards would be re-evaluated in a week, suggesting the injury is likely a mild strain. Still, it will keep him out for at least three upcoming games, including the start of a three-game road trip beginning Saturday at Charlotte. The team faces six games in the first 10 days of November, five of them on the road, making his absence a significant early test for Minnesota.

The 23-year-old sustained the injury after converting a contested layup in traffic just over three minutes into the game. Edwards absorbed contact on the play and appeared to look toward the officials for a foul call before being subbed out during a timeout taken by Indiana moments later. He did not return to the court. Bones Hyland came off the bench to replace him.

Before the injury, Edwards had been in strong form to start the new season. In Minnesota’s season opener at Portland, he poured in 41 points in 39 minutes, shooting efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc. Over the early stretch of the season, he has averaged 25.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 51.9% overall and 47.4% from three-point range.

Durability has long been one of Edwards’ trademarks. The sixth-year guard has played in 426 of a possible 445 games in his NBA career, including playoff appearances, and has missed only three games in each of the last three seasons. His absence will therefore be a rare one for the Timberwolves, who will look to maintain their momentum without their leading scorer.

On a positive note for Minnesota, the team confirmed that backup point guard Rob Dillingham was cleared to play Monday against Denver after missing the previous game with a broken nose.

While Edwards’ injury is not considered serious, the Timberwolves are expected to take a cautious approach to his recovery. Given his importance to the team’s offense and leadership, ensuring he returns fully fit could be critical to sustaining their strong start to the season.