Stephen Curry’s Concerned Reaction To Anthony Edwards’ Ankle Injury Caught on TNT Camera

Is Anthony Edwards going to be all right? That question may be going through the minds of fans at the Target Center as the matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors continues to be underway. Caution was raised after Anthony Edwards had an unfortunate collision during the 2nd quarter.

As the player lay on the floor, grimacing in pain, the faces of the fans and the faces of his teammates said it all as the Timberwolves star exited Game 2 of the ongoing playoff series with support from officials. The situation seemed so dire that even rival players seemed concerned.

According to reports, as Anthony Edwards was helped off the court after going down hard on drive to the basket, Stephen Curry looked down the tunnel where Edwards left, with a “sad/forlorn expression on his face”. Though he might be injured himself, no one wishes an injury to their adversaries. And Anthony Edwards was simply an on-court rival. Furthermore, having dealt with his own ankle and knee issues over the course of his 16-year long career, the Warriors star could relate.

It was only in the previous Warriors-Timberwolves matchup when Stephen Curry sustained the first-ever hamstring injury of his NBA career. The injury could not have come at a worse time for the player, as he and his teammates have to carve a path for the Western Conference Finals by going through the team headed by the player who was No. 4 in the league in scoring average. Therefore, hopes were for Curry to not be absent for long, as the Warriors need him more than ever.

However, Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D., highlighted that the ‘mean time’ for recovery from such ailments can be about 6 games! NBA and NFL Injury Insider, Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT, said the typical timeline of healing is up to 7-10 days for Grade I. For Grade II, it is 3-6 weeks. Neither of which is a good option. Therefore, seeing another player get sidelined, even though he may be from the rival time, would not have given Curry any satisfaction.

Though it is wrong to presume so, Anthony Edwards’ injury could have been a blessing in disguise. After all, with the star players of both teams out, the odds would have once again evened out. However, Anthony Edwards wasn’t out for long. He was taken to the locker room after the incident and diagnosed with a left ankle sprain. The Minnesota Timberwolves later announced his return to be questionable, but, surprisingly, after some halftime work, Edwards returned to start the second half.

What was only supposed to be an outing that generated 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists before the injury, reached up till 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist after Edward’s return. His presence, combined with Stephen Curry’s absence, allowed the Timberwolves to win the matchup by a 117-93 score.

The fact that Anthony Edwards left the game with so much dread and concern on him, only to return for the 2nd half, would have been found amusing by many. In fact, Charles Barkley saw all that unfolded and experienced that rare feeling of déjà vu.

Charles Barkley compares Anthony Edwards to Paul Pierce after ankle injury scare: “Only thing he was missing was the wheelchair”

After the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 2 win, the hosts at NBA on TNT once again hosted their post-game segment. During the same, Anthony Edwards’ injury became a significant topic of discussion. Without diving into the start on what the injury could mean for Edwards and the Timberwolves’ future, Charles Barkley decided to stay at the present, and how the player returned to the court so soon despite suffering from an ankle ailment. This led to Charles Barkley joking that “This is Paul Pierce-Like, right here. Only thing he was missing was the wheelchair.” Barkley also added that “This dude look like he be dying out there. He’d get back up like nothing’s wrong. Look at that. Come on, man! Stop it!”.

The Paul Pierce comment was, of course, a reference to the infamous Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals. The same series that Pierce and his teammates would go on to win to deliver the Boston Celtics their last championship win before the recent 2024 one. However, before Paul Pierce could become an NBA champion, he became infamous when he fell under the basket during the game. Pierce appeared to have injured his leg on a play. He stayed down, and Pierce was eventually carried off the court and then taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Pierce ran back out onto the court on his own after a while. He returned to the game, and even helped lead the Celtics to a 98-88 win. Given the quick recovery, many presumed that Pierce had not hurt himself. It would not be until before Game 3 of the 2019 NBA Finals that the now former player revealed the real truth.

“I have a confession to make,” Pierce said on ESPN. “I just had to go to the bathroom.”

Without any official confirmation, it is hard for us to say whether Anthony Edwards’ injury was real. If it was, then the player should be careful. After all, Edwards had turned this same ankle in Game 4 of the first round against the Lakers, as ESPN’s Dave McMenamin had revealed. Ankle injuries can become recurring if a player puts stress on that part of the body continuously, which could result in a longer absence from the court than a few minutes.