Timberwolves Lose Edwards, DiVincenzo, Dosunmu, Anderson for Game 6 vs. Nuggets

Key facts

• Anthony Edwards out with a bone bruise in his left knee, expected to miss multiple weeks.
• Donte DiVincenzo ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 4, out for the season.
• Ayo Dosunmu scratched with a sore right calf for Game 6.
• Kyle Anderson scratched with an illness for Game 6.
• Bones Hyland listed as questionable with left knee soreness.
• Denver Nuggets forwards Aaron Gordon (left calf tightness) and Peyton Watson (strained right hamstring) held out again.
• Mike Conley and Terrence Shannon started Game 5 in the thinned backcourt.
• Game 6 is Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. ET in Minneapolis.

Injury Crisis Deepens as Timberwolves Seek to Close Out Series

The Minnesota Timberwolves, already without their star Anthony Edwards and sparkplug Donte DiVincenzo, lost two more key players for Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Guard Ayo Dosunmu was scratched with a sore right calf, and forward Kyle Anderson was sidelined by an illness, thinning a roster that had already been pushed to its limits. Minnesota holds a 3-2 series lead after a 125-113 defeat in Denver on Monday, but the injury toll has mounted with alarming speed. The Timberwolves now face the Nuggets at home with a patchwork lineup, trying to clinch the series and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Edwards and DiVincenzo Lost to Serious Injuries

Edwards, the team's leading scorer, suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during the second quarter of Game 4 and has been ruled out for Game 6; he is expected to miss multiple weeks. DiVincenzo ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first minute of that same game and underwent surgery Sunday, ending his season. He visited the team's morning shootaround on a scooter, and his teammates wore his jersey to the arena in tribute. Without Edwards and DiVincenzo, the Timberwolves still managed to win Game 4, 112-96, behind a career-high 43 points from Dosunmu. But the injuries caught up in Game 5, when the Nuggets pulled within one game of tying the series.

Backcourt Rotation in Flux as Hyland Questionable

With the backcourt thinned significantly, coach Chris Finch started 19th-year veteran Mike Conley and 2024 first-round draft pick Terrence Shannon in Game 5. Backup guard with left knee soreness and is questionable for Game 6; if he is sidelined, Dosunmu and Conley could see even larger roles. Jaylen Clark, who played sparingly during the regular season, is also in line to join the rotation. Anderson, a deeper reserve since rejoining the Timberwolves last month, would have given Finch another experienced option. His absence leaves Minnesota even more reliant on an untested backcourt.

Nuggets Also Dealing with Injuries to Gordon and Watson

The Nuggets have their own injury concerns: forwards Aaron Gordon (left calf tightness) and Peyton Watson (strained right hamstring) were held out again for Game 6. Gordon has missed three of the six games in the series, while Watson has yet to play. Denver's depth has been tested as well, but the defending champions have managed to keep the series alive. Game 5's victory in Denver gave the Nuggets momentum, but they now face a Timberwolves team that, despite its injuries, has shown resilience on its home court.

Timberwolves' Depth Tested After DiVincenzo's Season-Ending Injury

DiVincenzo's Achilles rupture in Game 4 was a devastating blow, as he had been a vital contributor off the bench. The Timberwolves' players wore his jersey to the arena in a show of solidarity, and his absence has forced Finch to dig deep into the roster. Conley, at 37, is being asked to shoulder a heavy load, while Shannon, a rookie, is thrust into a high-stakes playoff role. The Timberwolves have managed to stay alive through a combination of Dosunmu's breakout performance and collective grit, but the margin for error is now razor-thin.

Game 6 Pivotal for Both Teams' Postseason Hopes

A win Thursday would send the Timberwolves to the Western Conference semifinals, a remarkable feat given the injury list. A loss would force a Game 7 in Denver, where the Nuggets have been strong. The stakes are clear: Minnesota must find a way to close out the series with a depleted roster, while Denver aims to force a decisive game and regain home-court advantage. The tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET in Minneapolis, with ESPN broadcasting the game.

Resilience vs. Depth: The Deciding Factor

The Timberwolves have defied expectations by taking a 3-2 lead despite losing their best player and a key reserve. But the cumulative effect of injuries may finally be too much to overcome. Denver, though missing Gordon and Watson, has a healthier core and the experience of a championship run. How Minnesota's patchwork lineup performs under pressure will determine whether this series ends Thursday or extends to a winner-take-all Game 7. The Nuggets, sensing an opportunity, will look to exploit the Timberwolves' depleted backcourt and force mistakes.

The bottom line

• Minnesota is without Anthony Edwards (bone bruise, multiple weeks), Donte DiVincenzo (torn Achilles, season), Ayo Dosunmu (calf), and Kyle Anderson (illness) for Game 6.
• Bones Hyland is questionable with left knee soreness, further thinning the backcourt.
• Denver is also missing Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson due to injuries.
• The Timberwolves lead the series 3-2 and can clinch with a win at home.
• A loss forces Game 7 in Denver, where the Nuggets would have home-court advantage.
• Game 6 tips off Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET in Minneapolis.