The Minnesota Timberwolves avoided a significant injury blow on Thursday as they battle for position in the Western Conference playoff picture. Anthony Edwards exited during the second quarter of a Brooklyn Nets matchup with an ankle injury.

Edwards drained a three before stepping on Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez and turning his ankle. The Timberwolves star had to be helped to the locker room.

However, he returned to action to start the second half for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards exits Timberwolves-Nets matchup with ankle injury

Anthony Edwards
© Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Related Minnesota Timberwolves NewsArticle continues below
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after scoring against the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
Thunder blast Nuggets in Game 7 to set up Timberwolves showdown in WCF
Rudy Gobert Minnesota Timberwolves
Rudy Gobert breaks silence on kicking out pregnant girlfriend rumor

Edwards posted 15 points, two rebounds and one assist on 6-of-9 shooting in 14 minutes before sustaining the injury. Minnesota held a 49-37 lead at halftime over Brooklyn, who is playing several G-Leaguers while angling to hold onto sixth place in the draft lottery standings.

Edwards has put together a third straight All-Star season with the Timberwolves, averaging 27.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game on 44/39/84 shooting splits. The 23-year-old has been among the NBA's most durable stars, appearing in 74 out of 76 games.

Minnesota bounced back from a 1-3 stretch to win three straight games entering the Nets matchup. Chris Finch's squad pulled out a thrilling 140-139 double overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday at Ball Arena. Edwards played 50 minutes, finishing with 34 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field and 5-of-15 from three with 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The Timberwolves are battling to avoid the West play-in tournament. Entering Thursday's game, they held the same record as the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies (44-32) but sat in sixth place due to a tiebreaker. All three teams are a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors in fifth place.

Memphis is visiting the Miami Heat on Thursday, while the Warriors will travel to face the Los Angeles Lakers. The Clippers will be back in action on Friday when they host the Dallas Mavericks.