The Minnesota Timberwolves punched their ticket to the conference semifinals with a gritty 110-98 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night—a win made all the more impressive by the absence of star guard Anthony Edwards, along with Ayo Dosunmu and Donte DiVincenzo. Despite these key injuries, Minnesota showcased remarkable depth and resilience to close out the series.
But as the celebrations wind down, all eyes are already on the next challenge: a showdown with the San Antonio Spurs. And if you ask NBA legend Charles Barkley, the Timberwolves’ hopes are hanging by a thread.
During a postgame segment on Inside the NBA, Barkley didn’t mince words when assessing Minnesota’s chances without their leading man. “Without Anthony Edwards, they got no chance. Zero,” he said bluntly. “It would be a difficult series with Anthony, but without him… That’s the first question before we can even try to analyze this series.”
Barkley’s critique didn’t stop there. He zeroed in on the looming matchup between Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. “Joker is a little guy compared to Rudy; Rudy is a little guy compared to Victor,” Barkley noted, highlighting the size mismatch that could define the series.
The Hall of Famer also pointed out that Edwards’ injury isn’t the only hurdle. “Anthony is a superstar, but if they don’t have Anthony, they need DiVincenzo, and now you got the other kid who’s hurt [Dosunmu],” Barkley added. “Without Anthony, they got no chance.”
Edwards is currently sidelined with a left knee bone bruise, and the most optimistic timeline suggests a potential return around Game 4 after a two-week recovery period. However, no official confirmation has been given on when he’ll be fully fit to rejoin the lineup.
As the Timberwolves prepare for what promises to be a grueling series, one thing is clear: their depth will be tested like never before. And with Barkley’s brutal verdict echoing in the background, Minnesota will need to dig deep to prove the doubters wrong.