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Anthony Edwards returns from knee injury and scores 17 points in Timberwolves’ win over Mavericks

By Bruna • March 31, 2026 • 4 min de leitura
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Anthony Edwards - @theanthonyedwards_
Photo: Anthony Edwards - @theanthonyedwards_

Minnesota Timberwolves relied on Anthony Edwards to beat Dallas Mavericks 124-94 at American Airlines Center on the night of March 30th. The shooting guard, who had initially been listed as doubtful, entered the court and contributed 17 points in 23 minutes, even coming off the bench after a delay in the start of the match. The victory kept Timberwolves in the fight for a favorable position in Conferência Oeste, where the team seeks to consolidate its campaign before the playoffs.

Edwards was dealing with inflammation in his right knee, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome. The problem ruled him out of the team’s previous six games. Ele had missed 16 matches throughout the 2025-26 season for different reasons, but demonstrated progress by participating in recent training sessions and being released for the clash in Dallas.

  • The player entered the court one minute after the start of the match, replacing Mike Conley.
  • He made 7 of 13 shots, including two three-pointers and two dunks.
  • The performance took place under minutes restrictions, as planned by the technical committee.
  • Julius Randle, born in Dallas, led the team with 24 points in the away victory.

Controlled return of Edwards

The team chose to carefully manage the star’s court time to avoid worsening the injury. Edwards also recorded four assists and two rebounds in the match. Sua’s presence helped improve Timberwolves’s attack, which faced offensive difficulties during his absence.

Coach Chris Finch monitored the athlete’s workload throughout the game. The decision to release him to play also aimed to preserve his eligibility for individual awards, as he has played 58 games to date. With the return, Edwards is in a position to reach the minimum of 65 games required in case of a positive sequence until the end of the regular season.

Season performance

Over the 58 games played in the 2025-26 season, Anthony Edwards averages 29.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Esses numbers represent his career-best scoring performance. The player’s offensive consistency has been fundamental for Minnesota Timberwolves, which occupies fifth place in Conferência Oeste with 46 wins and 29 losses.

The recent absence impacted the team’s rhythm, which depended heavily on its ability to create and finish. Com Edwards back, Timberwolves are looking to maintain the momentum in the final rounds of the qualifying phase. The confrontation against Dallas Mavericks served as an important test to assess the shooting guard’s physical condition in a real game environment.

Situation of Timberwolves in the season

The team from Minnesota arrived at the duel in Dallas needing positive results to strengthen their position in the playoffs. The victory by 30 points demonstrated collective dominance, especially in attack, where several players contributed in a balanced way. The defense also stood out in limiting the home team’s performance.

Edwards expressed determination to stay healthy down the stretch of the season. The coaching staff continues to evaluate their progress day by day. The focus now turns to upcoming commitments, where load management must continue to avoid relapses.

League comments

JJ Redick, coach of Los Angeles Lakers, stated that Luka Doncic deserves the MVP award if the team maintains its good momentum until the end of the regular season. Redick highlighted the Slovenian’s impact on Lakers’s recent performance.

Tracy McGrady, legend of Orlando Magic, explained that part of the criticism of previous generations of the current NBA is related to salary differences. Ele mentioned that stars from the 90s received much lower salaries compared to the current amounts paid to players.

The victory of Timberwolves reinforces the importance of healthy main players in the decisive disputes of the season. The team is now preparing for the remaining games, paying special attention to the physical condition of its main athletes.