
The Minnesota Timberwolves secured their place in the conference semifinals with a 110-98 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu and Donte DiVincenzo were all unavailable, yet Minnesota still found a way to close out the series. Their resilience highlighted the depth within the roster.
However, attention has quickly shifted to the next round, as Charles Barkley has already raised concerns about how far the Timberwolves can go without their leading star.
Speaking on Inside the NBA after Game 6, Barkley delivered a blunt assessment of Minnesota’s outlook for the matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. He made it clear that Edwards’ absence changes everything.
The former NBA MVP said: “Without Anthony Edwards they got no chance. Zero. It would be a difficult series with Anthony, but without him… That’s the first question before we can even try to analyse this series.”
Barkley also suggested that, regarding physical attributes, Rudy Gobert will face a much tougher test in the next round when facing Victor Wembanyama.
He said: “Joker is a little guy compared to Rudy; Rudy is a little guy compared to Victor.”
Charles Barkley:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 1, 2026
"Without Anthony Edwards they got no chance. Zero. It would be a difficult series with Anthony. Joker is a little guy compared to Rudy. Rudy is a little guy compared to Victor" pic.twitter.com/AfwuxnbkCb
‘Chuck’ added that Edwards is not the only concern for Minnesota. Injuries across the squad further complicate their chances.
“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]. Without Anthony, they got no chance,” he said.
Edwards is currently dealing with a left knee bone bruise, and he is expected to miss at least part of the upcoming series against the Spurs.
The most optimistic timeline points to a return around Game 4, following a two-week recovery period.
However, there is still no clear confirmation on when he will be fully fit to return.
More must-reads:
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!