Anthony Edwards Scores 45 as Timberwolves Beat Heat 131-106 in Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Debut

Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and made nine 3-pointers as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat 131-106 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Kaseya Center in Miami, spoiling Giannis Antetokounmpo's first regular-season game with the Heat. The season opener for both teams also marked LaMelo Ball's debut with Minnesota, and Ball finished with 21 points, according to The Associated Press report published by CBS Miami.

With the performance, Edwards became the third player in NBA history to score at least 40 points in more than one season opener, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, NBA.com reported in its recap of Wednesday's 11-game slate.

Edwards joins Chamberlain and Jordan

Edwards shot 16-for-29 from the field and 9-for-17 from 3-point range, and added 10 rebounds and three assists in just over 33 minutes, according to an Associated Press story published on NBA.com. He scored 12 points in the first quarter, nine in the second, 15 in the third and nine in the fourth. His nine 3-pointers were one more than the entire Heat roster made, as Miami finished 8-for-33 from beyond the arc.

Edwards scored 41 points in Minnesota's opener at Portland last season. Chamberlain had four 40-point openers in a row from 1959 through 1962, and Jordan reached the mark in openers in 1986, 1989 and 1995, according to the AP.

The Guardian reported that the 45 points were the most by a Minnesota player in a season opener and that the game was Edwards' 125th career game with at least 30 points. He checked out with 3:51 remaining and the Timberwolves ahead by 28.

"Fire," Edwards said after the game when told of the company he had joined, according to the AP. "That's fire."

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said, according to the AP, "With Anthony's mindset and abilities, he's always thrived and lived for and embraced the moments. And opening night is always going to be a moment."

Edwards also said a Heat player talking from the Miami bench added to his motivation, and that he did not know who the player was. "He was talking pretty crazy," Edwards said, according to the AP. "And then when I started talking to him, he didn't really have too much more to say."

Antetokounmpo scores 35 in Miami debut

Antetokounmpo, who joined Miami in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, scored 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting and had six rebounds, according to The Guardian. He scored 21 of those points in the first half and later fouled out, the AP reported. NBA.com noted that his total broke LeBron James' record for points in a debut with Miami.

According to the Heat's official website, Antetokounmpo had one assist. Bam Adebayo scored 15 points for Miami. The Guardian reported that Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell scored 11 points apiece, with Mitchell adding 10 assists, and that Klay Thompson scored 10 points in his own Heat debut.

The AP reported that Miami has now lost three consecutive season openers, the third time that has happened in franchise history. "We got tested," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, according to the AP.

How the game turned

The game was close through much of the first half. Miami briefly led 50-49 in the second quarter on a 3-pointer by Bobby Portis Jr., The Guardian reported. Minnesota then closed the half with a run that included two corner 3-pointers from Terrence Shannon Jr. and took a 69-59 lead into halftime. Edwards and Antetokounmpo each had 21 points at the break, according to NBA.com.

The AP described a 23-7 run that began late in the second quarter and carried into the third, turning a one-point Minnesota lead into a 78-61 advantage. Edwards and Ball combined for 17 points during that stretch, while the Heat missed six of nine shots and committed four turnovers.

Miami pulled within eight points midway through the third quarter before Minnesota answered with a 45-23 run, during which Edwards scored 18 points and the Heat missed 11 of 12 attempts from 3-point range, the AP reported. The Heat's website reported that Minnesota led 99-81 after three quarters.

By the numbers

• 63-24: Minnesota's scoring advantage on 3-pointers, according to the AP.
• 52-34: The Timberwolves' rebounding edge, with Rudy Gobert grabbing 15 rebounds.
• 17: Points from Jaden McDaniels; Ayo Dosunmu added 16 and Jonathan Kuminga 12.
• 21 points, 6 assists, 5 3-pointers: LaMelo Ball's line in his Timberwolves debut, per NBA.com.
• 6 of 8: Season openers Minnesota has won in its last eight, according to the AP.

The Heat's website reported that Miami scored 54 points in the paint and 18 fast-break points, but its offensive rating was 99.1 for the night.

What's next

Both teams play again on Friday, Oct. 23. The Timberwolves visit the Orlando Magic, and the Heat host the Detroit Pistons, according to the AP.