Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game against Phoenix due to right knee soreness, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s an important matchup between the two Western Conference clubs, as Minnesota has a two-game lead over the Suns for the No. 6 seed — and a guaranteed playoff berth.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link), Edwards was “clearly laboring” during Sunday’s road loss in Oklahoma City. It will be the 11th missed game this season for Edwards, who has been named to the All-NBA Second Team each of the past two seasons.
Sixth Man of the Year contender Naz Reid is battling an injury as well. He’s listed as questionable to suit up because of a right shoulder contusion, per the Wolves.
We have more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been downgraded from doubtful to out for Monday’s game vs. San Antonio, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic. The two-time NBA Finals MVP sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win over Sacramento, which is why he won’t play tonight. As Murray notes (via Twitter), Leonard can only miss two more games after Monday to remain eligible for major postseason awards.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared to tweak his left knee after landing awkwardly following a dunk during Sunday’s win over Indiana. While the Bucks superstar is considered questionable for Tuesday’s contest vs. Cleveland, Antetokounmpo’s injury designation is still a left ankle sprain rather than anything to do with his knee, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 31-year-old forward downplayed the apparent knee issue after the game and said he didn’t plan to undergo imaging.
- The Spurs will be without two key rotation members on Monday, with Dylan Harper (right calf contusion) and Luke Kornet (right knee soreness) both sidelined (Twitter link via Jared Weiss of The Athletic). It’s the second straight absence for Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, and the first absence for Kornet since February 5. However, head coach Mitch Johnson is hopeful both players will be active on Tuesday at Sacramento, as Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News relays (via Twitter). “If not tomorrow, very, very soon,” Johnson said. “But I’m optimistic that they got a good chance to play tomorrow.“