Anthony Edwards brushes off injury scare, lifts Wolves in Game 2 - ESPN
MINNEAPOLIS — Before Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves won what he called «the biggest game of our career» on Thursday, beating the Golden State Warriors 117-93 to even their Western Conference semifinals series at 1-1, Edwards' left ankle gave Wolves fans their biggest scare of the season.
Edwards, already playing on the compromised ankle after hurting it in Game 4 of the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, had to leave the game midway through the second quarter after reinjuring it when Warriors big man Trayce Jackson-Davis stepped on him.
Jackson-Davis blocked Edwards' shot at the rim with 6:03 remaining in the quarter, sending him to the floor. With Edwards already below him, Jackson-Davis inadvertently landed on Edwards' left ankle.
As play continued on the other end of the court, Edwards remained on the floor. Wolves center Rudy Gobert stopped the action by fouling Warriors guard Jimmy Butler, and Minnesota called timeout with 5:56 left in the second, leading 37-19.
Jaden McDaniels subbed in for Edwards, who exited through the tunnel opposite the Minnesota bench, helped by members of the Wolves' medical staff.
«This one, I was really worried about, actually,» Wolves coach Chris Finch said after the game. «This one, I was really planning on not seeing him the rest of the game, to be honest with you.»
Minnesota protected its lead with Edwards out, with Golden State only managing to cut the gap from 18 points to 17 by halftime as Julius Randle scored nine of his game-high 24 points in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Edwards was attended to in the locker room by the Wolves' vice president of medical operations and performance, David Hines. Hines guided Edwards through a series of modalities to test