Anthony Edwards Listed Questionable for Game 1, Because Of Course He Is

When Underdog NBA tweeted that Anthony Edwards is officially listed as questionable for Game 1 against the Spurs on Monday night, it was the kind of injury update that makes you want to throw your phone into a river.

We all know what injury management means in the playoffs. It means he is going to play, but the team wants to keep everyone sweating until the final layup line. ESPN sources are already saying he is expected to suit up barring a pregame setback, which is just a polite way of saying he is playing unless he steps on a rake in the tunnel.

"ESPN sources indicate Edwards is expected to play barring a pregame setback."

The reality is that Edwards is just nine days removed from a left knee injury that completely derailed the back end of his season. He missed 11 of Minnesota's final 14 regular-season games because of this exact knee issue, which also cost him a shot at the NBA's 65-game minimum for postseason awards.

If you are looking at the prop markets or trying to figure out how the Timberwolves handle the Spurs, you have to factor in how he looked on Friday. Edwards shot a brutal 5-for-23 from the floor and 2-for-9 from deep in 33 minutes. That is not a guy who is fully right, even if he did manage to scrape together four steals on pure instinct.

Minnesota needs him to be the guy who can take over a playoff series, not a guy who is wincing every time he lands in the paint. The Spurs are young, but they are not going to roll over just because the Timberwolves have a compromised superstar trying to find his legs in real time.

Watch the pregame warmups closely on Monday night. If Edwards is moving well, Minnesota has a chance to set the tone for the series. If he looks stiff, this first-round matchup is going to turn into an absolute dogfight.