The Minnesota Timberwolves are quite possibly the most fun ticket in town right now. Even with the Minnesota Vikings sitting at 6-0, Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball have brought a high-flying pace of play to Chris Finch’s team.

They should be 4-0 after referees screwed them out of a victory on Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the NBA officially acknowledged two late officiating mistakes that went against them. Even with the loss, the Wolves’ +68 point differential through four games is their best ever to start a season. At any rate, this team was always going to go as far as their two superstars could carry them.

Ball has the longer injury history, and that’s obviously a concern when he’s being counted on as Edwards’ running mate. Unfortunately, it’s Ant-Man who will miss time first.

Anthony Edwards injury deals MN Timberwolves significant blow

Through four games, Anthony Edwards has been every bit the superstar that the Minnesota Timberwolves have come to expect. After winning their third game, though, he was clearly dealing with knee pain. That was the case to end last season as well, and now the news is even worse.

Shams Charania (ESPN) dropped the bombshell on Tuesday afternoon that Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee and miss up to two months. Edwards spent much of the offseason resting and treating his knee. Before Monday’s game, Chris Finch told The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, “It’s a daily situation, I don’t think there’s any long term concern.”

Back in May, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said Edwards wouldn’t need surgery during the offseason.

“So I think the work ethic is always been elite and I think how he takes care of it preventatively takes care of his body is elite. So no, no surgery just some rest don’t touch a ball for a while and I think he’ll come back like he does every year, a better version of himself.”

It’s not a great look for the organization. Edwards was dealing with right knee issues down the stretch last season and finished with just 61 games played, below the 65-game threshold for awards such as MVP and All-NBA. He also missed two playoff games after injuring his left knee. After Connelly’s comments this offseason and Finch saying just yesterday that he didn’t think there was a long-term concern, Edwards is now facing surgery on his right knee and a potentially lengthy absence. It’s fair to wonder how things got to this point.

What do MN Timberwolves lose without Edwards?

Obviously, there is no replacing one of the best players in the entire league, especially with how well Edwards started the season. His 133 points through four games are the most by a Timberwolves player to start a season, surpassing his own previous mark of 120 in 2024-25.

He leads the league with 12.5 field goals made and 26.0 attempts per game. He is averaging a career-best 33.3 points per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and a career-high 40.0% from deep.

Edwards and Ball make up arguably the best backcourt tandem in basketball, but that is now on hold. Ball will be asked to do more, which is a concern given his own injury history. The Hornets limited him to 28.0 minutes per game last season in an attempt to keep him healthy. He is averaging 24.8 minutes per game this season, and Finch will have to figure out how much he can lean on him.

Of course the Timberwolves are still without guard Donte DiVincenzo as he recovers from his torn Achilles. Minutes for Bones Hyland, Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. could increase, while Isaiah Evans, Jaylen Clark and Cody Williams could get a look in the rotation.

Finch will have to guide his team through early-season adversity, hope Ball can stay healthy and that Minnesota is still ready to go when Edwards returns.