Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and made nine three-pointers as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Miami Heat 131-106 on Wednesday night, spoiling Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut with his new team.
Edwards shot 16-for-29 from the field, including 9-for-17 from beyond the arc, and added 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. He became just the third player, alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, to score at least 40 points in multiple NBA season openers.
Chamberlain accomplished the feat four times consecutively from 1959 through 1962, while Jordan did it in 1986, 1989 and 1995. Edwards scored 41 points in Minnesota’s season opener against Portland last season.
LaMelo Ball also made his Timberwolves debut, finishing with 21 points, six assists and five three-pointers. Jaden McDaniels added 17 points, Ayo Dosunmu scored 16 off the bench, and Jonathan Kuminga contributed 12. Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds as Minnesota outrebounded Miami 52-34.
The Timberwolves took control with a 23-7 run that began late in the second quarter and continued into the third. The surge turned a one-point advantage into a 78-61 lead, with Edwards and Ball combining for 17 points during the stretch.
Miami cut the deficit to eight midway through the third quarter, but Minnesota responded with another decisive run, outscoring the Heat 45-23. Edwards scored 18 points during that stretch as Miami struggled from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts for the game.
Antetokounmpo led Miami with 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting, adding six rebounds before fouling out. He scored 21 points in the first half, but the Heat could not keep pace with Minnesota’s offense.
Bam Adebayo finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell each scored 11. Mitchell also recorded 11 assists, although Miami committed 18 turnovers.
The loss extended Miami’s struggles in season openers, marking its third consecutive defeat in such games. The Heat will look to respond when they host the Detroit Pistons on Friday, while Minnesota visits the Orlando Magic the same night.
