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Timberwolves Hold 3-1 Lead, Play Game 5 Missing Edwards, DiVincenzo

4/28/2026

Summary

Timberwolves Play Game 5

The Timberwolves will play Game 5 in Denver, closing a 3-1 series lead despite missing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.
Anthony Edwards suffered a left-knee hyperextension and bone bruise, week-to-week after leaving Game 4.
Donte DiVincenzo tore his left Achilles tendon, exited Game 4 a minute in, and will miss season.
Ayo Dosunmu scored 43 points in the 112-96 Game 4 win, which featured starters Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.

Summary

Randle fined

Julius Randle was fined $35,000 for his role in the Game 4 altercation.
The NBA announced the fine on Monday, preserving Minnesota’s frontcourt rotation for Game 5 in Denver.
Dr. Brian Sutterer warned that even a best-case scenario would see Edwards return only by the conference finals.
Coach Chris Finch said the team will not rush Edwards’ recovery, noting Edwards generally returns ahead of the timeline.

Summary

Edwards Career-High

Edwards posted a career-high 28.8 points per game, ranking third in the NBA behind Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He shot 48.9% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range while adding 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
In February he earned his fourth consecutive All-Star selection, confirming his elite status.
He missed several weeks late in the season with right-knee patellar tendinitis and “runner’s knee.”

Summary

Edwards Injured

Anthony Edwards suffered a bone bruise and hyperextension while trying to block a layup by Denver guard Cam Johnson.
Team doctors said his knee remained structurally intact despite the injury.
Julius Randle quietly dapped Edwards in the locker room after the injury, showing team support.
Edwards, the fourth-leading scorer for the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Paris 2024, missed 21 games this season.

History

Historical Context

In the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks prevailed over the Indiana Pacers in seven games, a postseason that set a then-record of 25 games and underscored how a star’s absence can shift momentum. The injury-driven swing echoes today as the Minnesota Timberwolves confront a 3-1 series lead while Anthony Edwards’ knee and Donte DiVincenzo’s Achilles injury threaten their rotation.

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Timberwolves Play Game 5

The Timberwolves will play Game 5 in Denver, closing a 3-1 series lead despite missing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.
Anthony Edwards suffered a left-knee hyperextension and bone bruise, week-to-week after leaving Game 4.
Donte DiVincenzo tore his left Achilles tendon, exited Game 4 a minute in, and will miss season.
Ayo Dosunmu scored 43 points in the 112-96 Game 4 win, which featured starters Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.

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