Edwards scores 45 as Timberwolves beat Heat 131-106 in Antetokounmpo's Miami debut
In short
Anthony Edwards scored 45 points with nine 3-pointers as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat 131-106 on Wednesday night in Miami. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 in his first game for the Heat, and LaMelo Ball scored 21 in his Minnesota debut.
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Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and hit nine 3-pointers as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat 131-106 in Miami on Wednesday night, Oct. 21, 2026, in a season opener. The result spoiled the first game of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Heat. The Guardian reported that Antetokounmpo joined Miami in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. [ 1 , 5 ]
AP reported that Edwards, who scored 41 in last season's opener at Portland, joined only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as players with at least 40 points in multiple openers. Chamberlain did it four times, consecutively from 1959 through 1962, and Jordan did it in 1986, 1989 and 1995. The Guardian said Edwards' 45 points were the most by a Minnesota player in a season opener and marked his 125th career game with at least 30 points. He shot 16-for-29 from the floor, including 9-for-17 from three-point range, and had 10 rebounds. He checked out with 3:51 remaining and Minnesota leading by 28. [ 1 , 5 ]
LaMelo Ball scored 21 points in his Minnesota debut, with five three-pointers and six assists, according to the Guardian. Jaden McDaniels scored 17, Ayo Dosunmu had 16 and Jonathan Kuminga added 12, AP reported. Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds. AP said Minnesota outscored Miami 63-24 on 3-pointers and outrebounded the Heat 52-34, and that the Timberwolves won for the sixth time in their last eight season openers. The Guardian put the three-point makes at 21 for Minnesota and eight for Miami. [ 1 , 5 ]
Antetokounmpo scored 35 points for Miami, and AP said he fouled out of his Heat debut. The Guardian said he grabbed six rebounds, shot 13-for-19, airballed a free throw and was assessed a flagrant foul after elbowing Terrence Shannon Jr. in the head on a drive. It said he checked out with seven minutes remaining after hearing MVP chants from the home crowd early in the game. Bam Adebayo had 15 points, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell added 11 each, Mitchell also had 10 assists, and Klay Thompson scored 10 in his Miami debut. [ 1 , 5 ]
According to the Guardian, Edwards and Antetokounmpo each scored 21 points in the first half, and Minnesota led by 10 at the break. The Timberwolves led 27-19 after eight minutes, and Miami briefly took a 50-49 lead on a three-pointer by Bobby Portis Jr. in the second quarter. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The game was the season opener for both teams and the first for Antetokounmpo and Ball with their new clubs. The outlets also placed Edwards' performance in the history of NBA season openers.
Key facts
- Minnesota beat Miami 131-106 in a season opener on Wednesday night, Oct. 21, 2026, in Miami. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and hit nine 3-pointers. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Edwards joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as players with at least 40 points in multiple season openers. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points in his Heat debut. [ 1 , 5 ]
- LaMelo Ball scored 21 points in his Timberwolves debut. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Minnesota outscored Miami 63-24 on 3-pointers and outrebounded the Heat 52-34, AP reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Edwards scored 45 points as Minnesota beat Miami in the season opener, spoiling Antetokounmpo's Heat debut. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The final score was 131-106. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Antetokounmpo scored 35 points in his first game with Miami. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Edwards joined only Chamberlain and Jordan as players with at least 40 points in multiple season openers. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Ball scored 21 points in his Minnesota debut. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Jaden McDaniels scored 17 points and Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds for Minnesota. [ 1 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- How Antetokounmpo's night ended. AP said he fouled out; the Guardian said he checked out with seven minutes remaining and was assessed a flagrant foul, without saying he fouled out.
- Details of the game beyond the opening paragraphs of the AP article. The AP and Guardian article texts are cut off, and the Reuters and other AP items are available only as headlines.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- AP published its game report on Edwards' 45 points and Minnesota's 131-106 win. [ 1 ]
- Reuters published a report headlined on Edwards' 45 and the Wolves spoiling Antetokounmpo's Heat debut. [ 2 ]
- AP published a Spanish-language report on the 131-106 result. [ 3 ]
- AP published a further report headlined on Edwards meeting the opening night moment. [ 4 ]
- The Guardian US published its report on the game. [ 5 ]