The Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff dreams took a dramatic turn Saturday night at Target Center, where an eventful Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets left the team with more questions than answers. While the Timberwolves managed to secure a 112-96 victory and push their series lead to 3-1, the win came at a considerable cost: both Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, two of Minnesota’s starting guards, exited the game in the first half due to significant leg injuries.
Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves’ four-time All-Star and emotional leader, suffered a left knee injury late in the second quarter. The incident unfolded with just 2:43 remaining before halftime. Edwards, who had been battling a persistent right knee issue for weeks, leaped to contest a drive from Nuggets wing Cam Johnson. As he landed, his left knee buckled awkwardly, sending him sprawling to the floor. He immediately clutched his knee, slammed the court in frustration, and needed assistance from team officials to make it to the locker room. Edwards was unable to put any weight on his left leg as he departed, and the Timberwolves quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the contest.
Before his injury, Edwards had contributed five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes, shooting just 1-for-8 from the field. While his stat line was uncharacteristically quiet, his presence on both ends of the floor was sorely missed after his departure. The Timberwolves later announced that Edwards would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Edwards had been playing through “runner’s knee” in his right leg throughout the series, but this was the first game in which he was not listed as questionable on the injury report—a sign that his condition had been improving until this latest setback.
“Anthony Edwards (Left Knee Injury) is OUT for the remainder of the game,” the Timberwolves’ official PR account confirmed shortly after halftime. The news sent shockwaves through the arena and across NBA social media. One fan wrote, “what did we do to deserve this,” while another lamented, “This night 4/25/26 will go down as the worst day in my life.” The sense of disbelief and disappointment was palpable among Minnesota’s loyal supporters, who have seen their share of heartbreak in recent years.
The Timberwolves’ injury woes began even earlier in the night. Just 1:19 into the first quarter, Donte DiVincenzo suffered a noncontact injury to his right leg after missing a three-point attempt and planting his foot to chase the rebound. DiVincenzo immediately grabbed at the back of his foot and ankle area and was helped off the court. ESPN’s Shams Charania later reported that DiVincenzo had sustained a torn right Achilles tendon, a devastating blow for both the player and the team. DiVincenzo, who started all 82 games this season and averaged 12.2 points per game while making 244 three-pointers (sixth most in the NBA), left the arena at halftime in a wheelchair with a splint cast on his right leg.
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch struggled to contain his emotions when asked about DiVincenzo’s injury after the game. “I feel completely devastated for Donte,” Finch said. “He was playing so well. He’s had such a great season. He’s the heart [and] soul of so many things that we do. You can just see the look in his eye when it happened, and you kind of knew. We love him, and we’ll be there for him.”
With both starting guards sidelined, the Timberwolves were forced to adjust on the fly. Mike Conley and Ayo Dosunmu started the second half, and it was Dosunmu who seized the moment, delivering a career-high 43 points off the bench. According to the game broadcast, Dosunmu became just the fourth player in NBA history to score 40 or more points off the bench in a playoff game—a remarkable achievement that helped Minnesota pull away in the fourth quarter after trailing for much of the second and third periods.
Despite the adversity, the Timberwolves showed resilience, regrouping at halftime and finding their offensive rhythm. Coach Finch praised his squad’s determination: “Losing those two guys was really tough. Tough emotionally for the guys. We regrouped well. I thought the key was just hanging in there until we get to halftime and kind of reset things, figure out what we have and who we have going forward. We were able to find our offensive rhythm. ... Just play after play after play, we really had a team effort, everybody chipped in.”
The victory gave Minnesota a 3-1 series lead, a commanding position in the best-of-seven first-round Western Conference matchup. The Timberwolves entered the postseason as the sixth seed, finishing the regular season with a 49-33 record and coming off back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals. After dropping Game 1 to the Nuggets, Minnesota bounced back to win the next three, putting them on the brink of advancing. Game 5 is scheduled for Monday night in Denver, but the Timberwolves’ lineup remains in flux.
Edwards’ status for the remainder of the series is uncertain pending the results of his MRI. If he is unable to play, Dosunmu and Julius Randle are expected to shoulder more of the offensive load, with Bones Hyland potentially seeing increased minutes off the bench. DiVincenzo’s season, however, is all but over, and his absence leaves a significant hole in Minnesota’s rotation. He had been a key factor in the Timberwolves’ early series lead, contributing 12, 16, and 15 points in the first three games against Denver.
Edwards’ injury is especially heartbreaking given his role as the Timberwolves’ leading scorer (28.8 points per game in the regular season) and his emergence as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. He averaged 23 points per game in the first three games of the postseason and has been the focal point of Minnesota’s offense and defensive schemes. His leadership and ability to draw defensive attention have been crucial to the Timberwolves’ success.
For now, the Timberwolves and their fans are left holding their breath, awaiting updates on Edwards’ condition and bracing for a pivotal Game 5 in Denver. The team’s resilience and depth will be put to the test, and the coming days will reveal whether Minnesota can weather this storm and continue their playoff run—or if these injuries will prove too much to overcome.
As the Timberwolves prepare for the next chapter in this rollercoaster postseason, one thing is clear: their fight, spirit, and unity have never been more important.