Introduction
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ on-court success hinges on elite performances from their core stars — Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jaden McDaniels. While Edwards often leads the charge offensively, how his supporting scorers and defenders perform in his absence offers crucial context for team strategy, analytics insights, and fantasy basketball owners.
Conversely, analyzing Edwards’ production without McDaniels reveals how the Wolves adapt when one of their key 3-and-D wings is unavailable. This comprehensive analysis examines career and season splits, real game scenarios, and deeper statistical insights to answer a key question:
How do DiVincenzo and McDaniels perform statistically without Anthony Edwards — and how does Edwards perform without McDaniels?
Section 1 — Why Absence Splits Matter
When any star player is missing, other rotation pieces must adjust their roles. NBA analytics rely on absence splits to demonstrate who steps up — or struggles — when star scorers or defenders are out of the lineup.
For the Timberwolves, measuring:
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Donte DiVincenzo’s stats without Edwards
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Jaden McDaniels’ stats without Edwards
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Anthony Edwards’ stats without McDaniels
— reveals depth, flexibility, and Wolves roster balance.
These splits inform coaches, analysts, bettors, and fans about lineup strength, offensive distribution, and defensive scheme adjustments.
Section 2 — Donte DiVincenzo’s Stats Without Anthony Edwards
Donte DiVincenzo has emerged as one of Minnesota’s most reliable two-way guards. Known for sharpshooting and perimeter defense, DiVincenzo often fills scoring voids when Edwards is out.
Career Absence Splits
Across his Timberwolves career, DiVincenzo averages when Anthony Edwards isn’t playing:
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16.7 points
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5.9 rebounds
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5.0 assists
…per game in 9 career games without Edwards.
This Season’s Absence Splits
In the current season, DiVincenzo has been particularly impressive without Edwards:
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18.1 points
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6.0 rebounds
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4.7 assists per game in 7 games.
This suggests DiVincenzo becomes a true fallback scoring and playmaking option when the Wolves lose their go-to scorer.
Recent 10-Game Trend
Over his last 10 games without Edwards, DiVincenzo’s production jumps further:
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19.5 points
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5.7 rebounds
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4.1 assists
These high usage numbers show he’s taking on more responsibility offensively.
One-Game Example
In the 2024–25 season, the only documented game without Edwards saw DiVincenzo post:
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12 points
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7 rebounds
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5 assists
in 26 minutes — a well-rounded performance.
Key Insights
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DiVincenzo increases his scoring and playmaking without Edwards.
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He helps anchor offensive flow rather than deferring every possession.
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His rebounding numbers demonstrate heightened all-around impact.
This illustrates that DiVincenzo isn’t just a spot-up shooter — he becomes a multi-faceted contributor when needed.
Section 3 — Jaden McDaniels’ Stats Without Anthony Edwards
Like DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels has shown he can thrive when the Wolves’ primary scorer is absent.
Career Absence Splits
Across his career, McDaniels averages without Edwards:
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17.4 points
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5.7 rebounds
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2.5 assists
in 24 games.
As a Starter Without Edwards
When McDaniels started in place of Edwards, his numbers increased:
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19.9 points
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4.9 rebounds
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3.6 assists in 8 starts.
Last 3 Seasons Trend
Since 2023-24, McDaniels has averaged:
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20.6 points
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6.2 rebounds
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3.4 assists, in 11 games without Edwards.
This further underscores his ability as an alternate offensive option.
Strengths Highlighted
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Scoring boost when given more shot attempts
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Rebounding and playmaking growth
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Often becomes a defensive anchor without Edwards
His more balanced scoring and rebounding reflect an expanded role in Edwards’ absence.
Section 4 — Anthony Edwards’ Stats Without Jaden McDaniels
Now let’s flip the narrative: How does the star perform when McDaniels is absent?
According to career splits:
When McDaniels isn’t in the lineup, Edwards’ performance over various seasons shows:
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Higher individual scoring outputs
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Slight shifts in assist and rebounding opportunities
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Fluctuating shooting efficiency based on lineups
For example, in the 2025-26 season so far without McDaniels:
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Edwards has averaged ~28 points per game in limited appearances.
In prior seasons without McDaniels, his scoring and usage rate also climbed — suggesting Edwards becomes even more of the primary ball handler and shot creator.
Section 5 — Comparative Analysis
Putting these absence splits together reveals a few key patterns:
Offensive Load Redistribution
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DiVincenzo and McDaniels both significantly increase scoring and usage without Edwards.
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Neither completely replaces Edwards’ sheer scoring force, but both become reliable secondary options.
Edwards Takes Over Without McDaniels
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Edwards tends to absorb more shot creation duties and usage when McDaniels is out.
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The absence of McDaniels doesn’t dramatically reduce Edwards’ scoring — signaling his role as the franchise’s offensive engine.
Rotational Flexibility
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Wolves coaching staff likely values this flexibility:
DiVincenzo and McDaniels both capable of stepping up scoring roles when needed.
Section 6 — Real Game Examples
Example 1 — Wolves Win Without Edwards
In a January 2026 game against the Bucks, Minnesota won 139-106 despite missing Anthony Edwards. Jaden McDaniels shot perfectly 4-for-4 from three early in the game.
This illustrates how McDaniels can anchor efficient spacing and scoring when Edwards is unavailable.
Example 2 — DiVincenzo Clutch Scoring
In another matchup against the Warriors, DiVincenzo knocked down key 3-pointers while Edwards was injured, helping seal a 127-120 victory.
These wins highlight that Minnesota doesn’t collapse when Edwards sits — thanks to multiple scoring contributors.
Section 7 — What This Means for the Timberwolves
Offensive Continuity
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Wolves maintain solid offensive production without Edwards thanks to DiVincenzo and McDaniels.
Lineup Adjustments
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Without McDaniels, Edwards thrives — showing his individual scoring isn’t hindered by wings in the lineup.
Balanced Depth
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The front office’s roster construction yields multiple capable options rather than one-man dependency.
Section 8 — Implications for Fantasy Basketball and Betting
Fantasy Basketball
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DiVincenzo and McDaniels become must-start assets when Edwards misses games. Their usage increases significantly.
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Edwards remains a strong asset even without McDaniels due to his voluminous scoring.
Betting Considerations
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Absence splits help predict team performance shifts:
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Wolves games without Edwards still offer competitive offensive outcomes.
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Lines may tighten when McDaniels is out due to increased Edwards usage.
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Section 9 — Expert Takeaways
Key Takeaway #1:
Both DiVincenzo and McDaniels have proven they can increase offensive and all-around production without Edwards.
Key Takeaway #2:
Edwards doesn’t suffer significantly without McDaniels — often maintaining or increasing scoring.
Key Takeaway #3:
Minnesota’s depth remains a tactical advantage, allowing consistent performance even with lineup changes.
FAQs
Q1: What are Donte DiVincenzo’s stats without Anthony Edwards?
A: He averages around 16.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.0 APG career, and as high as 18.1 PPG in 2025-26 without Edwards.
Q2: How does Jaden McDaniels perform without Anthony Edwards?
A: McDaniels averages about 17.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists in career absence games without Edwards.
Q3: How does Anthony Edwards do without McDaniels?
A: Edwards’ scoring often stays high when McDaniels is out, with recent games showing around 28 points per game or more.
Q4: Does the Wolves offense struggle without Edwards?
A: The Wolves still put up strong offensive numbers without Edwards because both DiVincenzo and McDaniels elevate their roles.
Q5: Should fantasy owners keep DiVincenzo and McDaniels if Edwards is out?
A: Yes — both players become high-value fantasy options when Edwards misses games due to increased usage and production. (Based on absence data)
Conclusion
Analyzing Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jaden McDaniels’ absence splits unveils the depth and adaptability of Minnesota’s key contributors. While Edwards remains the central offensive force, his teammates consistently step up in his absence — often producing elite scoring and all-around stats. Conversely, Edwards maintains top scoring outputs when McDaniels is unavailable.
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