Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards is set to undergo knee surgery and could miss “up to two months,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday. The stunning news came just one night after Edwards erupted for 47 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Edwards was off to a scorching start, scoring at least 45 points twice in his first four games. The NBA world reacted largely in disbelief, while others wondered how Minnesota would cope without its leading scorer for an extended stretch.

Shock and Concern Sweep NBA World After Anthony Edwards’ Injury Setback

Edwards was on a tear to start the season, averaging 33.3 points per game and opening with 45 in a 131-106 rout of the Miami Heat. Minnesota won its first three outings by at least 22 points apiece before Monday’s 127-125 overtime loss in Cleveland. Still, Edwards poured in a game-high 47 points, shooting 19-for-34 (55.9%) in 41 minutes.

The knee trouble is particularly concerning given the 25-year-old’s injury history. Edwards was limited to 61 games last season and dealt with significant knee issues, with his latest setback affecting the same leg. Minnesota had already listed him as questionable for Wednesday’s home matchup against the Golden State Warriors before news of the planned surgery broke.

Charania reported that the four-time All-Star is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to address his “ailing right knee” before outlining his expected recovery timeline.

The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski reported that the Timberwolves “look at Anthony Edwards’ surgery as a way to get it addressed as soon as possible and hope is he’ll be back sometime in December or so and be fully ready to go.”

The Minnesota insider then followed up with a new wrinkle: “Edwards will have surgery on Thursday, after which there will be a better idea on the timeline for recovery, I’m told. As of now, the belief is it’s going to be more than two months.”

The news caught many across the NBA world off guard. NBA content creator Kenny Beecham summed up the surprise with a simple “Whattttt?”

Basketball University conveyed its disappointment in one word: “Depression.”

Others zeroed in on the timing. Basketball Performances stressed that Edwards had “just dropped 47.”

ESPN’s Sam Block kept it blunt: “I hate injuries.”

Former 17-year NBA veteran Eddie Johnson zoomed out further:

“This is an epidemic. Longer, more intensive training camps please, to strengthen bodies for the rigors of an 82-game season. We played in canvas Chuck Taylor’s and never went down like our players are in today’s games.”

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor weighed the fallout for Minnesota:

“Awful news. Truly awful. It’s not that the Timberwolves can’t compete without Anthony Edwards. It’s just they go from GREAT to merely good in a loaded West. Any missed time hurts their playoff seeding.”

O’Connor also pointed to a “big-time opportunity for Ayo Dosunmu and others coming up in Minnesota.”

Dosunmu, an athletic two-way guard who thrives in transition, has come off the bench in Minnesota’s first four games, averaging 12.0 ppg. Jaden McDaniels (15.0 ppg) and LaMelo Ball (14.8 ppg) are the team’s next-leading scorers behind Edwards, marking a steep drop-off.

The Timberwolves are 3-1, but they will now have to find a way to tread water without their No. 1 option.

A two-month absence would cost Edwards roughly 25-27 contests. That would leave him unable to meet the NBA’s 65-game minimum for major regular-season awards, including MVP and All-NBA honors.