UPDATE: Anthony Edwards is set to return to action tonight vs. the Knicks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards ($8,900) left the team’s game last Sunday against the Indiana Pacers with the exception that he’d miss about two weeks, which would make his expected return next Monday’s road game against the Utah Jazz. In his absence, Minnesota has gone 3-2, counting the win against Indiana.
However, Edwards appears to have beaten his recovery timeline, and according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, he’s expected to make his return a few days early in the Timberwolves’ road game against the New York Knicks, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
He’ll likely be on some kind of minutes restriction in order to not aggravate the soft-tissue injury, but regardless, his return will be a huge boon. In two-plus games this season, Edwards averaged 25.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while making 51.9% of his field goal attempts, 47.4% of his triples, and 82.4% of his free throws. He also hit a long two to ice the season-opening win over the Portland Trail Blazers, capping off a 41-point performance in style. Although Minnesota has been 3.5 points per 100 possessions better with him off the floor this season, it’d surely love to have him back, especially since Mike Conley has demonstrated signs of his age this season.
In his absence, Julius Randle ($9,000) has been spectacular, averaging 27.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 56-38-87 shooting splits, but Edwards’ return gives the Timberwolves an even more potent driver and isolation player to help collapse the defense and open up easy shots for Donte DiVincenzo ($6,600), Jaden McDaniels ($6,400), and Naz Reid ($5,500). Last season, DiVincenzo made 41% of his triples off of passes from Edwards.
Edwards should have a fairly favorable matchup against a Knicks team that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards so far this season. New York has been decent defensively overall, with the 12th-best defensive rating, but it has allowed the second-highest three-point percentage, which should benefit Edwards. Some of it is attributable to luck — the Knicks have allowed the seventh-highest field goal percentage on wide-open threes — but either way, he has gotten his way against them in the past. Last season, he shot six-for-10 (three-for-three from deep) and scored 15 points in 68.5 partial possessions when guarded by Mikal Bridges ($6,500).
New York is a 2.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook (-148 on the Moneyline), with the point total set to 228.5. Minnesota, meanwhile, is +124 on the Moneyline.
