Timberwolves Face Cavaliers Amid Injury Concerns for Key Players

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, with both Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley officially listed as questionable due to injuries. Edwards is dealing with right hip soreness, while Conley is suffering from a right index finger sprain.

Both players were sidelined during Saturday’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, where the Timberwolves secured a 114-98 win. Edwards, who leads Minnesota in scoring with an average of 27.2 points per game, has been described by head coach Chris Finch as day-to-day, and he is not expected to miss significant time.

“I don’t expect it to be a lengthy absence for Anthony,” Finch said during a pre-game press conference. “He’s just day-to-day and we’re hopeful he’ll feel good enough to play tonight.”

Edwards, a standout player in his third NBA season, recently scored a combined 90 points in two games before being rested against the Trail Blazers. He has played in 51 of the Timberwolves’ 53 games this season and has not missed consecutive games since late November.

Conley, in his 18th NBA season, has missed a total of six games this year. Despite averaging a career-low 8.2 points per game, he showed flashes of his former self in the previous game against the Houston Rockets, contributing 16 points. However, he will miss his second consecutive game on Monday night.

The Timberwolves currently sit at 30-23 and occupy the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. They are on a three-game winning streak and have won eight of their last ten games. Their upcoming match against the Cavaliers, who boast a league-best record of 42-10, will be a significant test. The Cavaliers have been dominant at home, with a record of 24-4 this season.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge, especially in Cleveland,” said Finch. “But we’ve been playing well and we need to keep that momentum going.”

The matchup will mark the second encounter between these teams this season. The Cavaliers defeated the Timberwolves 124-117 in their previous meeting on January 18, a game in which Minnesota struggled after playing the night before.

In addition to the absence of Edwards and Conley, the Timberwolves will also be without Julius Randle (groin strain) and Donte DiVincenzo (toe sprain), further complicating their lineup. Meanwhile, Cleveland will miss Isaac Okoro (shoulder) and Dean Wade (knee) as they look to solidify their playoff position.

The game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network at 6 p.m. ET from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.