Wolves’ Anthony Edwards to likely miss at least 8 games with right hamstring strain: Source

Anthony Edwards will likely miss two weeks with a strained right hamstring, a team source confirmed to The Athletic. 

The team announced Monday that Edwards will be re-evaluated in one week, but team sources expect him to need another week to return to play.

Edwards left the game against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night after just three minutes on the court and watched the rest of the game from the bench. He had an MRI on Monday that revealed the extent of the injury, which is a big blow to the Timberwolves early this season.

Edwards will miss a minimum of eight games. He scored 41 points in a season-opening win over Portland and then scored 31 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, the first time he was seen grabbing at his hamstring.

Edwards scored five points early against the Pacers before heading to the locker room. It is a rare injury for one of the league’s most durable stars. Edwards played in 79 games in each of the last three seasons. This will likely be the longest stretch of missed games in Edwards’ career. He missed six straight games in December of 2021, his second season in the league.

With him out of the lineup, the Wolves will likely reconfigure their offense to put Julius Randle at the center. Randle’s playmaking and shot creation make him an ideal fit for the role. He scored 31 points in the win over Indiana.

“Naturally, the ball is going to find me a little bit more,” Randle said after the game of Edwards’ absence. “So it doesn’t change my mentality as far as trying to play the right way and make the right play. If they’re guarding me straight up, try to score. If they get in the gaps, help or double team, trust my teammates.”

Naz Reid said after the game that he didn’t think Edwards would be out long, but that if he were, the Wolves would be ready.

“Just be us,” Reid said. “I think we can all pick up the load and do what we do best. We don’t have to overreact, just do what we’ve been doing. Be consistent.”