Anthony Edwards scores 45 as Timberwolves overwhelm Heat 131-106 in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Miami debut

Anthony Edwards scored 45 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat 131-106 in Wednesday night’s season opener in Minnesota, spoiling Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first game with Miami.

Edwards’ 45-point effort included nine three-pointers and was the highest total by a Minnesota player in a season opener; it also marked his 125th career game with at least 30 points. He became just the third player in NBA history to record multiple 40-point games in season openers, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. Antetokounmpo scored 35 points and grabbed six rebounds after joining Miami in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Edwards finished 16-for-29 from the field and 9-for-17 from three-point range, and he added 10 rebounds. He left the game with 3:51 remaining while Minnesota held a 28-point lead.

LaMelo Ball, making his Timberwolves debut, sank five three-pointers and finished with 21 points and six assists. Jaden McDaniels contributed 17 points and Rudy Gobert collected 15 rebounds as Minnesota made 21 three-pointers in the game compared with eight for Miami.

Antetokounmpo was Miami’s most productive scorer, shooting 13-for-19 from the floor before checking out with seven minutes remaining after hearing MVP chants from the home crowd early in the game. He also airballed a free throw and was assessed a flagrant foul after elbowing Terrence Shannon Jr in the head on a drive.

Miami’s supporting scorers included Bam Adebayo with 15 points, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell with 11 apiece, and Mitchell added 10 assists; Klay Thompson scored 10 points in his Miami debut. Minnesota built an early advantage, opening 11-for-14 from the floor and leading 27-19 after eight minutes.

Both Edwards and Antetokounmpo scored 21 points in the first half, but Minnesota carried a 10-point lead into the break. Miami briefly led 50-49 on a Bobby Portis Jr three in the second quarter before Minnesota closed the half with corner threes from Terrence Shannon Jr, a steal and dunk from Edwards, and a drive plus two free throws from Ball to make it 69-59; Edwards and Ball each hit early threes in the third, and Minnesota extended the margin to 78-61.

The 131-106 result came in the season opener.