7 NBA Teams Are Down Key Players as the Season Opens

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards had arthroscopic knee surgery and is out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. The team's goal is to have him back in time for a playoff push. Edwards was playing in pain before the procedure, and the knee was not expected to improve on its own.

Oklahoma City lost two players on the same night. Jalen Williams suffered leg and ankle injuries that required surgery, a procedure that is likely to end his season. Teammate Cason Wallace underwent shoulder surgery and faces a long recovery. Both were hurt during Sunday night's game. The Thunder were favored to contend for a second championship in three years.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti said the team has dealt with this before. "We have a unique experience with this. It's not something you want to have a lot of experience with, but we do," Presti said. He added that Oklahoma City has not had good luck with injuries in recent years. "I think we'll probably lean on some of that. Then a large portion of it is we're very process-oriented. I think it keeps you humble in good times and keeps you stable when you're going through some adversity."

Toronto will be without Kawhi Leonard for at least a week because of knee swelling. The Raptors said there is no acute left knee injury behind the problem. RJ Barrett, a Raptors player, called injuries "part of the game" and said the team has to figure things out until Leonard returns.

Orlando is down two players. Paolo Banchero is out for perhaps a month with a high ankle sprain. Jalen Suggs will miss a couple of weeks with a knee issue. Banchero said, "It's very early in the season. There's a lot out in front of us."

Utah center Jaren Jackson Jr. could miss two months after tearing a knee ligament. The Jazz had hoped to return to the playoff chase this season. Sacramento's Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendon before the season began and will miss another year. Golden State's Kristaps Porzingis is away from the team while dealing with a health issue. Golden State's Jimmy Butler III and Minnesota's Donte DiVincenzo remain sidelined from injuries suffered last season.

Losing Edwards will cost Minnesota wins in November and December. The Timberwolves are looking past those months to the playoff games in May and June.