Is Anthony Edwards Playing Tonight in Timberwolves vs. Lakers Game 5? Exploring Injury Report for Star’s Status

This isn’t just a game. It’s a referendum on everything the Timberwolves have built. A shot at legacy for a young core that’s tired of waiting its turn. And for Anthony Edwards, it’s a proving ground—a stage where superstardom isn’t just claimed, it’s crystallized.

Heading into Game 5, Minnesota isn’t walking into Los Angeles with hope. They’re walking in with intent. Up 3-1 against a LeBron-Luka Lakers team many penciled into the Western Conference Finals before a single playoff tip, the Wolves are now one win away from flipping the West’s hierarchy—and sending a very public statement while doing it.

Injury Report: Wolves Healthy, Lakers Teetering

Good news for Minnesota fans: Anthony Edwards is a go. After briefly surfacing on the injury radar earlier in the week, the Wolves filed a clean report Tuesday evening. The only absence? Rookie Rob Dillingham, who hasn’t cracked the rotation in weeks. That means the Wolves enter Game 5 with every rotation player locked and loaded—and when it comes to playoff depth, that’s not just an advantage. It’s a weapon.

Contrast that with L.A. Redick’s crew has been running on fumes, especially in the second halves. JJ chose not to substitute at all during the entire second half of Game 4—a decision that may have cost them the game. The result? LeBron went scoreless in the fourth. Luka looked winded. The Lakers missed 13 of their final 18 shots.

The Wolves? They’re fresher, deeper, and more versatile. And with a full-strength roster, Chris Finch has the luxury of tailoring his rotations in real-time. That’s how Naz Reid was able to steal momentum minutes late in Game 4. That’s how Jaden McDaniels can spend 40 minutes shadowing Luka and still hit clutch buckets down the stretch. That’s how this team closes.

Game 5: The Series on the Brink, Futures in the Balance

Here’s what Game 5 really is: a test of truth. Minnesota has the Lakers on the ropes. The stars are aligned. The energy is peaking. And yet, the hardest part isn’t getting to 3-1—it’s slamming the door shut. Because Game 5 is where dynasties cling to life. It’s where legends fight extinction. LeBron James has been here before, down 3-1 and roaring back. Luka Doncic hasn’t said his last word. And no one in the Wolves locker room is treating this like a formality.

For the Lakers, the blueprint is broken. They’ve been outscored in every fourth quarter this series. They’ve leaned on iso-ball when motion would serve them better. Their starters are overextended. Their bench is underused. And their chemistry, once their biggest advantage, is starting to show cracks. From Gobert-LeBron confrontations to leaked sideline tension, Game 4 was more than a loss. It was a reveal.

But Minnesota? Minnesota is building something. Edwards’ takeover in Game 4 wasn’t just scoring, though his 11 straight points in the fourth were seismic. It was poise. It was maturity. The decision to defer, to trust teammates, to lock in on defense. That’s growth. That’s leadership. That’s the kind of development that can’t be charted on a box score.

JJ Redick knows the pressure is mounting. “We have to play like it’s Game 7,” he said pregame, and there’s a reason for that edge. The Lakers know this might be their last ride with LeBron and Luka as the primary duo. The weight of expectation is real. And it’s starting to show. LeBron hasn’t scored in a fourth quarter since Game 2. Luka has been hunting mismatches, but the Wolves have answered with length, legs, and relentless help. Together, they’re facing questions they didn’t expect this early.

If Minnesota wins tonight, they advance—and in doing so, they bury the Luka-LeBron experiment’s first run. They silence the doubters, who said they couldn’t close. They validate a season that’s been about defying narratives. But if they lose? The pressure shifts. Game 6 moves back to Minneapolis. LeBron smells blood. The whispers start. “Are they too young?” “Can they handle the moment?”

And that’s why Game 5 is everything. It’s not just about advancing. It’s about proving they belong. About proving the future is now. As for the Lakers? This is their last breath. And Minnesota plans to suffocate it.