Minnesota Timberwolves 131, Miami Heat 106 | October 21, 2026
Anthony Edwards couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the NBA season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Miami Heat 131–106 on Wednesday night, with Edwards delivering an incredible 45 points, 10 rebounds, and nine three-pointers.
The game also marked the Miami debuts of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson, while LaMelo Ball made his first appearance for Minnesota.
Giannis certainly delivered, scoring 35 points, but Minnesota’s perimeter shooting was simply too much for the Heat to overcome.
And Edwards? He put himself in some legendary company.
First Quarter: New Faces Make Immediate Impressions
Both teams came out firing, combining for six three-pointers in the opening four and a half minutes.
Giannis wasted absolutely no time introducing himself to Miami fans. His first basket in a Heat uniform came on a midrange jumper, and he proceeded to score Miami’s first eight points.
He looked right at home.
LaMelo Ball also made an immediate impact in his Timberwolves debut, knocking down a three-pointer for his first basket with Minnesota. Klay Thompson followed suit for Miami, opening his Heat scoring account from beyond the arc.
Anthony Edwards quickly joined the action, drilling a three-pointer to give Minnesota a 21–17 advantage and force Miami into a timeout.
The opening quarter was a tremendous offensive display. Giannis scored 14 points, Edwards answered with 12, and the teams combined for 10 made three-pointers.
End of the first quarter: Minnesota 34, Miami 32.
Second Quarter: Edwards and Giannis Go Head-to-Head
Giannis opened the second quarter with a powerful dunk to tie the game at 34, bringing his total to 16 points.
But Minnesota’s outside shooting continued causing problems.
LaMelo Ball caught fire from beyond the arc, reaching 12 points on four three-pointers early in the quarter.
Then came one of the best sequences of the night.
Edwards drilled a three-pointer right over Giannis. On the following possession, Giannis responded by spinning past his defender and throwing down a vicious dunk directly in front of Edwards.
Two superstars going right at each other. That’s the kind of basketball fans want to see.
Bam Adebayo also provided a highlight, blowing past two Minnesota defenders for a powerful dunk.
Edwards wasn’t just making an impact offensively, either. He jumped a passing lane, stole the ball, and raced down the court for an uncontested dunk.
By halftime, Edwards and Giannis had scored 21 points apiece, while Ball had added 16.
However, Minnesota’s shooting was becoming the biggest story.
The Timberwolves had connected on 12 of 26 three-point attempts, while Miami had scored 30 points in the paint.
Two completely different offensive approaches, but Minnesota’s was proving more effective.
Halftime: Minnesota 69, Miami 59.
Third Quarter: Minnesota’s Three-Point Barrage Buries Miami
If Miami thought the Timberwolves might cool off after halftime, it was badly mistaken.
Edwards opened the third quarter with another three-pointer, and Minnesota proceeded to hit three consecutive shots from beyond the arc.
Suddenly, the Timberwolves were ahead 78–61, a 17-point advantage.
Miami wasn’t ready to surrender.
Giannis used his incredible stride to attack the basket, finishing through contact for an and-one opportunity. The Heat followed that possession with a steal, and Bam drew a foul to keep the pressure on Minnesota.
Andrew Wiggins then knocked down a jumper to cap a 9–0 Miami run, cutting the deficit to eight and forcing a Timberwolves timeout.
For a moment, it looked like Miami might have a legitimate comeback brewing.
But Edwards had other plans.
He continued drilling three-pointers, reaching 30 points before the third quarter had even ended.
Then came another three. And another.
Edwards scored 15 points in the third quarter alone, bringing his total to 36.
Bam provided some resistance for Miami, knocking down a three-pointer and converting an old-fashioned three-point play to keep the Heat within striking distance.
Unfortunately, every Miami run seemed to be answered by another Minnesota three-pointer.
End of the third quarter: Minnesota 99, Miami 81.
The Timberwolves had taken complete control.
Fourth Quarter: Edwards Reaches 45 and Joins Legendary Company
The fourth quarter was more of the same.
Giannis continued attacking the basket, reaching 30 points, but Miami found itself trailing 104–83 with approximately 10 minutes remaining.
The Heat simply couldn’t string together enough defensive stops.
Edwards, meanwhile, was putting the finishing touches on a remarkable performance.
He knocked down his eighth three-pointer of the night to reach 40 points, then added another from beyond the arc on his way to 45.
Nine made three-pointers in a season opener. Absolutely ridiculous.
And his scoring achievement came with an extraordinary historical distinction: Edwards joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only three players to record multiple 40-point performances in season openers.
Think about that company for a moment.
Wilt Chamberlain. Michael Jordan. Anthony Edwards.
That’s quite a way to begin a season.
There was also a controversial moment involving Giannis, whose elbow caught Landry Shamet in the face. The contact appeared worthy of a flagrant-foul review, regardless of whether it was intentional.
Ultimately, though, the outcome was never seriously in doubt during the closing minutes.
Minnesota continued scoring, and Miami had no response.
Final Score: Minnesota Timberwolves 131, Miami Heat 106.
Key Takeaways
1. Anthony Edwards Looks Ready for Another Huge Season
What else can you say about this performance?
Edwards finished with:
- 45 points
- 10 rebounds
- 9 three-pointers on 17 attempts
- 16-for-29 shooting from the field
He wasn’t just scoring, either. His defensive effort, including the second-quarter steal and transition dunk, demonstrated his ability to influence the game on both ends.
And joining Chamberlain and Jordan in that season-opening scoring category makes the night even more special.
If this is how Edwards plans to play all season, the rest of the Western Conference should be concerned.
2. People Have Forgotten Just How Good Giannis Is
Giannis scored 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting in his Miami debut, adding six rebounds.
And watching him tonight reminded me of something.
People seem to have forgotten that Giannis was arguably the best two-way player in basketball for three or four consecutive seasons.
Injuries and the frustration surrounding his final years in Milwaukee overshadowed just how dominant he can be.
Now he’s in Miami, playing for an organization with serious ambitions.
His ability to cover enormous distances with just a couple of strides, attack defenders, and finish through contact remains extraordinary.
Don’t let the final score fool you. Giannis looked fantastic.
The problem wasn’t him.
3. Minnesota’s Three-Point Shooting Was the Difference
The numbers tell an incredible story.
Minnesota made 21 of 50 three-pointers (42%).
Miami made just 8 of 33 (24%).
That’s a difference of 13 made three-pointers, or 39 points from beyond the arc.
Miami actually scored more points in the paint, winning that battle 54–38.
But the Timberwolves were so effective from outside that Miami’s interior advantage barely mattered.
Minnesota also dominated the glass, outrebounding Miami 67–44, including a staggering 17–4 advantage in offensive rebounds.
That’s a recipe for a blowout.
4. LaMelo Ball Makes a Strong First Impression
Edwards understandably stole the spotlight, but LaMelo Ball deserves recognition for his Minnesota debut.
Ball finished with 21 points, six assists, and five three-pointers.
His early shooting helped Minnesota establish its offensive rhythm, and his ability to create alongside Edwards gives the Timberwolves another dangerous option.
Jaden McDaniels added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Ayo Dosunmu contributed 16 off the bench.
Minnesota has plenty of offensive weapons, and tonight showed what happens when they start clicking.
5. Miami Needs More Than Giannis
This was my biggest concern watching the Heat.
Giannis was outstanding, but for much of the game, nobody else on Miami could consistently generate offense.
Bam finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell scored 11 apiece, with Mitchell also recording 10 assists.
Klay Thompson added 10 points, connecting on three of his six three-point attempts.
That’s not enough when the opposing team’s superstar scores 45 and his teammates are knocking down three-pointers all night.
Miami also shot just 24% from deep and lost the rebounding battle by 23.
Giannis can dominate the paint, but he cannot make up for that kind of perimeter shooting and rebounding disadvantage by himself.
The Heat need more consistency from their supporting cast.
Final Thoughts
Minnesota couldn’t have asked for a much better opening-night performance.
Edwards delivered 45 points, Ball made a strong first impression, and the Timberwolves overwhelmed Miami with their three-point shooting and rebounding.
For the Heat, there are still positives.
Giannis looked like the dominant superstar we’ve known for years, and there were moments when Miami’s offense looked dangerous.
But the team has plenty of work to do, particularly from beyond the arc and on the glass.
One thing is certain: Anthony Edwards has officially put the NBA on notice.
Final Score: Minnesota Timberwolves 131, Miami Heat 106.
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