Anthony Edwards’ injury scare shows fragile nature of NBA playoffs — a

MINNEAPOLIS — The fragility of contending in the NBA playoffs was illustrated in the hush of the Target Center crowd, in their collective eyes looking at the far end across from the Golden State Warriors bench, across from an NBA legend wearing street clothes instead of a team uniform.

The frailty of Anthony Edwards’ right ankle, or strength of it, stood between the Minnesota Timberwolves feeling like the Larry O’Brien trophy is open for anyone to claim or misery — not just for one night but for their future.

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You believe the NBA held its collective breath, one game after Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury sullied the possibility of this being a full-throated star-studded series, losing a young marquee star in these playoffs felt cruel.

Not like this.

Edwards was supposed to take down another monument on equal terms, on fair ground, to prove his worthiness for all the acclaim his game deserves. Or the old lion was supposed to roar again, staving off the new guard for one more spring.

That’s already in jeopardy.

The Timberwolves and their fans have seen Edwards crash land before, but he always popped back up — with the baited breath in those between moments as the price for unfathomable athleticism combined with zero fear of consequences.

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In that moment, the game and series felt like it was for the taking for the Warriors. The mindset could’ve easily shifted from being able to survive but seeing a path to win this thing and getting Curry to rest for the next series — a star for a star, as sterile as it sounds.

“I ain’t gonna lie, I didn’t move … I just looked up. I thought, ‘He’ll be alright’,” Timberwolves guard Mike Conley said.

But even Conley made the trot down, with teammates and even Draymond Green coming over to check.

Edwards was brought to his feet by two Timberwolves staffers, barely putting weight on that plant foot that was inadvertently landed on by Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis. He exited from…