You all know that the Denver Nuggets have been no strangers to injuries this season, and unfortunately, one of their top rivals is dealing with one that could drastically alter how the next few weeks play out. Minnesota announced that star guard Anthony Edwards is dealing with right knee inflammation and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks.
The Timberwolves have the same record as the Nuggets (41-27), but Denver has the tie-breaker, so it sits No. 5 in the West. Minnesota is clinging to the final playoff spot after losing four of its last five games, and being without Edwards for at least the next week could result in the Wolves falling into dreaded play-in tournament range.
Anthony Edwards' unfortunate injury reshapes the playoff race
The two teams below Denver in the standings — Minnesota and Phoenix — are now both dealing with key injuries. The Clippers are, too, as Kawhi Leonard is day-to-day with a left ankle sprain, but they're seven games back from the Nuggets, so they're not a threat with 14 games remaining in the regular season.
Even with Edwards out, the Nuggets can't afford to get even the least bit comfortable, although their remaining schedule does favor them.
The Suns are just two games behind them, and they're going to fight tooth and nail to try to claw their way into the top six, regardless of who is on the floor. Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams are out, but they have Devin Booker, who is averaging a casual 30.9 points per game this month.
It will be interesting to see how Minnesota navigates its next stretch without Edwards. Julius Randle is the team's second-leading scorer with 21.1 points per game, but aside from his 32-point performance in Sunday's loss to OKC, his play since the All-Star break hasn't been encouraging.
The Timberwolves will need Randle to step up (and then some), an occasion he may not be able to rise to. Edwards had been their lone steady force this season, averaging a career-high 29.5 points per game in 58 contests. Without him, Minnesota could fall apart.
While you'd think that last sentence would be worth celebrating for Denver, it's not in this instance, as you never want to see a star player go down, especially at this point in the season.
Hopefully, Edwards will be back in the Timberwolves' lineup soon, so that the Nuggets can beat them fair and square in the playoffs, of course.