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Timberwolves rise to No. 2 in ESPN power rankings as Edwards faces two months out
ESPN moved the 3-1 Timberwolves from fifth to second, but Anthony Edwards' knee procedure could keep him out for up to two months.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are second in ESPN's first power rankings of the regular season, up from fifth in the preseason edition. Only unbeaten Oklahoma City sits higher. The ranking reflects a team that hasn't quite existed since Tuesday, though, because Anthony Edwards is about to miss a long stretch.
The panel's case for Minnesota rests on how quickly Edwards and LaMelo Ball clicked. ESPN's Ben Golliver noted that the Wolves posted a 120.8 offensive rating with the two guards on the floor together. That figure would have ranked second in the league last season. Over four games, the new starting lineup outscored opponents by 31 points in 56 minutes. Golliver's blurb ends on the problem: Edwards will have an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee and could be sidelined for up to two months.
The procedure is scheduled for Thursday, ESPN reported, citing Shams Charania. The Minnesota Star Tribune confirmed it through team sources. Edwards started grabbing at the knee in Sunday's home-opening win over Toronto and was listed as questionable for Monday in Cleveland. He played anyway, logging 41 minutes and scoring 47 points in a 127-125 overtime loss. It was his second 45-point game of the season. Through four games he averaged 33.3 points on 48% shooting, the best start of his career.
This knee has given him trouble before. Edwards dealt with runner's knee in the same leg last season, and he missed 21 games in all. Minnesota went 12-9 without him. A two-month absence would also leave him short of the 65-game minimum for MVP and All-NBA honors, which affects his eligibility for a supermax extension. His manager, Justin Holland, played that down to ESPN: "It's a single focus -- winning a championship."
What it means against Golden State
Wednesday's home game with the Golden State Warriors is Minnesota's first since the news broke. The Wolves are 3-1. They won 131-106 at Miami, 115-93 at Orlando and 117-94 against Toronto before the overtime loss in Cleveland. Golden State is 1-3 and 27th in ESPN's rankings. The Warriors are coming off a blowout win at Denver, where rookie Yaxel Lendeborg closed the game with Stephen Curry on the bench. Minnesota's schedule doesn't ease up after that: the Clippers come in Friday, then a trip to San Antonio and a home game with Milwaukee.
Even without Edwards, the market favors Minnesota. On this site's board for the game, which tracks 12 venues, Novig has the Wolves favored at -156 on the moneyline and Golden State at +153. Novig lists Minnesota at -4.5 on the spread, priced at +108. The best Wolves spread anywhere is BetRivers at -3.5 for -112, so the venues are about a point apart on the margin. Novig sets the total at 227.5, and BetRivers is at 228.5. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 2.6% to 5.2%.
The question for Chris Finch's team is how much of that 120.8 offensive rating Ball can keep up as the lead creator. Follow the rest of the season on our Timberwolves page.