Edwards Scores 45 as Timberwolves Beat Heat in Antetokounmpo's Miami Debut
Edwards joins Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players with 40 points in more than one season opener
Anthony Edwards made nine 3-pointers by himself, one more than the Miami Heat made as a team. He shot 16 of 29 and had 10 rebounds in just over 33 minutes.
He scored 41 in last season's opener. Wilt Chamberlain had four straight 40-point openers from 1959 to 1962, and Michael Jordan had them in 1986, 1989 and 1995.
LaMelo Ball scored 21 in his first game for Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels added 17 on 8-of-11 shooting, and Rudy Gobert had 15 rebounds. Minnesota led 69–59 at halftime and 99–81 after three quarters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting in his first game for Miami before fouling out. Bam Adebayo had 15, and Davion Mitchell had 11 points and 11 assists.
Minnesota outscored Miami 63–24 from 3-point range and outrebounded the Heat 52–34.
"Fire," Edwards said. "That's fire."
Minnesota plays at Orlando next, and Miami hosts Detroit.
Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and made nine 3-pointers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat 131–106 to spoil Giannis Antetokounmpo's first game with Miami.
Edwards shot 16 of 29, went 9 of 17 from 3-point range and had 10 rebounds and three assists. He scored 12 points in the first quarter, nine in the second, 15 in the third and nine in the fourth.
He scored 41 in last season's opener at Portland and is now the third player with at least 40 points in more than one season opener, after Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. Chamberlain did it four straight times, from 1959 to 1962, and Jordan did it in 1986, 1989 and 1995.
"Fire," Edwards said. "That's fire."
Minnesota led 34–32 after the first quarter, 69–59 at halftime and 99–81 after three quarters.
LaMelo Ball scored 21 points in his first game for Minnesota, making five of 13 3-pointers, and had six assists. Jaden McDaniels scored 17 on 8-of-11 shooting, Ayo Dosunmu had 16 and Jonathan Kuminga 12. Rudy Gobert had 15 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo scored 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting before fouling out, and had six rebounds. Bam Adebayo had 15 points, and Davion Mitchell had 11 points and 11 assists.
Minnesota made 21 of 50 3-pointers, and Miami made eight of 33. That gave Minnesota a 63–24 edge from 3-point range. The Timberwolves outrebounded the Heat 52–34, including 17–4 on the offensive glass.
"With Anthony's mindset and abilities, he's always thrived and lived for and embraced the moments," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. "And opening night is always going to be a moment."
"We got tested," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Minnesota plays at Orlando on October 23, and Miami hosts Detroit the same night.