Anthony Edwards will play for the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday after the team upgraded him to available with a right knee injury maintenance designation. He had been listed as questionable before Monday, but his status changed in time for the game.
That matters because Edwards has been carrying much of the load for Minnesota's strong start. He is averaging 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists, and the team entered the first week of the new NBA season at 3-0.
The knee designation is the kind teams use when a player is dealing with a condition they want to manage rather than a fresh setback, which fits the picture here. Chris Finch said Edwards' knee woes are not a long-term concern, and the upgrade to available suggests the Timberwolves believe the issue can be handled without pulling him out of Monday's lineup.
What remains unanswered is how much the knee will affect Edwards once the game starts. For Minnesota, the immediate news is simpler: its best scorer is in, and the team keeps one of the main reasons behind its early momentum on the floor against Cleveland.
