MIAMI, United States, October 21, 2026: Miami unveiled Giannis Antetokounmpo. Minnesota answered with Anthony Edwards at full volume.
Edwards scored 45 points, hit nine three-pointers and added 10 rebounds as the Timberwolves beat the Heat 131-106 at Kaseya Center. Giannis scored 35 in his Miami debut, but Minnesota’s perimeter shooting and sustained scoring across all four quarters turned the opener into a 25-point statement.
Timberwolves vs Heat: Quarter-by-quarter score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 34 | 35 | 30 | 32 | 131 |
| Miami Heat | 32 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 106 |
Edwards turned opening night into a shooting exhibition
Edwards scored 45 on 16-for-29 shooting and made nine threes. Minnesota hit 21 three-pointers on 50 attempts, a 42% conversion rate that stretched Miami’s defense beyond the point where Giannis and Bam Adebayo could control the game from the interior.
It was the second consecutive season in which Edwards opened with a 40-point game, putting him in rare historical company. More importantly for Minnesota, this was not simply a volume-scoring night. Edwards paired the scoring with 10 rebounds and repeatedly punished Miami whenever the Heat gave him space beyond the arc.
LaMelo Ball gave Minnesota another offensive dimension
LaMelo Ball scored 21 points and added six assists in his Minnesota debut, including five three-pointers. That secondary perimeter creation is potentially transformative for a Timberwolves team that has often asked Edwards to initiate too much of its offense.
With Ball able to handle and create, Edwards could attack more selectively. Rudy Gobert added 15 rebounds, giving Minnesota the interior rebounding presence coach Chris Finch had emphasized before the season.
Giannis scored 35, but Miami could not match Minnesota’s spacing
Antetokounmpo scored 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting in his first regular-season game for the Heat. Individually, the production was exactly what Miami hoped for after acquiring him from Milwaukee.
The problem was the math around him. Miami shot only 24% from three-point range while Minnesota generated 63 points from beyond the arc. Davion Mitchell recorded 11 assists and Adebayo contributed across the box score, but the Heat could not keep pace once Minnesota’s perimeter attack began separating the teams.
Key performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves | 45 points, 10 rebounds, 9 threes |
| LaMelo Ball | Timberwolves | 21 points, 6 assists, 5 threes |
| Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | 15 rebounds |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Heat | 35 points |
| Davion Mitchell | Heat | 11 assists |
Minnesota won every quarter
The Wolves’ control was unusually complete. They won all four quarters and increased the margin after halftime rather than protecting it. Miami trailed by 10 at the break, 18 after three and 25 at the finish.
That is the strongest early signal from this game. The Timberwolves were not surviving a late push. They were extending their advantage as the night progressed.
Minnesota next heads to Orlando, while Miami hosts Detroit. TSE’s NBA coverage will track whether this shooting level is sustainable. The NBA Hub, our offseason title-race analysis, and the full schedule guide provide additional context around the opening week.
Official NBA sources
Game documentation: NBA game page, official box score and official play-by-play.