Anthony Edwards undergoes knee surgery, set to miss next two months

The Minnesota Timberwolves will play their next 26 games without Anthony Edwards. The team’s leading scorer is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Thursday. Medical staff expect a recovery period of up to two months, with a target return date in December.

The decision came less than 24 hours after Edwards scored 47 points in an overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Instead of managing the injury through the season, the team opted for immediate surgery. Edwards was originally listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors but was ruled out due to right knee maintenance issues.

This is the same knee that caused problems last season. Edwards missed the final game of Minnesota’s first-round playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets after hyperextending his knee. He returned to the bench for Game 1 of the conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs. Reports indicate he received intensive treatment and had the knee drained multiple times to stay active. He stated in the preseason that he took two months off to allow both knees to heal.

The Timberwolves enter this layoff with a 3-1 record. They have been a top contender, driven by Edwards and LaMelo Ball, who joined the team in a June trade from the Charlotte Hornets. Edwards averages 33.3 points per game and leads the league with 18 three-pointers made at a 40 percent clip. His recent games include scores of 45 and 47 points.

The team’s strategy shifts to LaMelo Ball taking a larger offensive role. While Edwards is a two-way player whose absence tests the team’s second-ranked defense, the structure remains intact on that end. Offensive data suggests a challenge. Cleaning the Glass reports that in 74 non-garbage-time possessions where Ball was on the floor and Edwards was off, the Wolves played at a rate that would rank in the bottom 10 of the league. Ball averages 14.8 points per game this season, down from 20 last year with Charlotte, largely because Edwards has dominated the offense.

Other players must step up. Donte DiVincenzo is rehabbing a torn Achilles. Terrence Shannon Jr. has started the season strongly. Jonathan Kuminga has an opportunity to build his case for a long-term contract. Ayo Dosunmu, a double-digit scorer and three-point shooter, offers another option for improved production.

Jaden McDaniels is likely to see the biggest increase in usage. He signed a one-year, $40 million extension earlier this year, which sets his base salary for a potential 2028 extension. He averages 15 points per game on 59 percent shooting and makes 42 percent of his three-pointers. With more opportunities and Ball’s ability to elevate teammates’ shooting, McDaniels could push past 20 points per game and pursue an All-Star selection. Last season, he scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Game 6 against Denver while Edwards sat out.

The schedule provides some relief. Before Christmas, the Timberwolves face only six games against top-tier opponents: the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Los Angeles Lakers twice. They have little margin for error against teams like Portland and Memphis. However, 16 of their next 26 games are at home, including an eight-game homestand in November.