Anthony Edwards connects on 9 3-pointers, finishes with 45 points in a season-opening win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tipped his 14th season Wednesday in Miami, but why did it feel as though he was still in Milwaukee?
The two-time Kia MVP, who wanted a change of scenery during the offseason and an escape from a Bucks’ team that lacked enough talent around him, had little help Wednesday in his Miami Heat debut.
It was plenty from Giannis, who scored 35 points, and not much from anyone else and therefore, no chance against the Minnesota Timberwolves.That provided quite the contrast compared to Anthony Edwards, whose effort was bolstered by new backcourt co-star LaMelo Ball in the 131-106 win.
One game doesn’t necessarily serve as a crystal ball for an entire season. Still, Giannis might keep a healthy amount of patience, just in case.
He should also keep what happened in the season opener in perspective — he was up against a force of basketball nature called Ant, and the Timberwolves are almost assuredly a 50-win team waiting to happen.
Here are the takeaways from the 25-point Wolves wipeout of Miami:
1. Ant is a giant, still
Maybe it’s because he’s getting restless and seeks a trip to the NBA Finals at some point, or perhaps he wanted to make a fierce opening statement. Here’s another explanation for what he delivered in the first game of the season — he’s a tremendous player with an equal amount of pride and competitive nature.
Whatever: Edwards was simply smashing. He had 45 points (and 10 rebounds) in 33 minutes, making nine from deep and just four of those total points on free throws. He constantly shredded the Miami defense with a variety of buckets, scored the most points by anyone in a Wolves’ opener, and he checked out with four minutes to spare, the game well out of reach by then.
He was certainly too much for anyone Miami threw his way, although there’s no shame in that for the Heat, because Edwards is capable of going thermal against anyone and any defense.
“I felt like we didn’t make it as tough as possible for him,” Giannis said.
This could be a monstrous season for Edwards. Maybe he captures the scoring title, or elevates the Wolves to a high seeding in the West, or emerges as a serious MVP contender … or finally gets that elusive trip to the championship round.
That’s for the remaining 81 games and a postseason to decide. Until then, Ant will savor one of the best opening nights the Wolves have ever seen.
2. The Melo-dy in Minnesota sounds great so far
Take a look at Ant and LaMelo’s chemistry as the 2026-27 season opens.
Edwards was on the bench laughing with LaMelo Ball late in the game, their work done. That scene gave a glimpse into their new and budding relationship; they seem thrilled with one another.
“Me and him gonna be like best friends,” Edwards said.
And the Wolves should be thrilled about this tandem of guards, who complimented each other very well against the Heat and were highly entertaining at times. Ball is easily and already the best point guard Edwards has had, and one game into the season has erased what was once a Wolves’ weakness. They were a combined plus-43 against Miami, a tremendous margin and example of dominance while on the floor together.
Not only can Ball create for Edwards, he’s an added threat from deep, and the Miami game showed as much. The two combined to make 14 3s and spent much of the night setting each other up for looks. By constantly attracting double-teams, Edwards, who connected on 40% from deep last season — impressive for a volume shooter — should create plenty of those chances for Ball, who was third in the league in 3-pointers made last season.
3. Bam and Giannis will need time to jell
The beauty of having Giannis and Adebayo together is obvious — their defense will make it tough on opposing teams. As for offensively, that’ll be more of a work in progress.
Neither player is a deep threat, and because of their lack of floor-spacing ability, they need to share the lane at times. There’s no great contrast between the two, which isn’t to suggest they won’t be mainly responsible for Miami winning games.
While Giannis mostly had his way against Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota defense, Adebayo was much more mild, with 15 points and was a minus-28, lowest on the team. This duo should work; it just requires more than one game.
4. Aw, shoot
This was precisely the reaction, and game, that will only intensify the worry regarding the Heat’s biggest issue — the lack of shooters. Ray Allen isn’t walking through that door unless he has a ticket and a court-side seat. Or actually, Allen right now might be an improvement if he chooses to come out of retirement.
Until Miami addresses the shooting problem, there will be more frustrating nights for Giannis and Adebayo.
If the Heat could turn back the clock six or seven years ago, then Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. would make this team a contender lock. Alas, this is 2026 and both have seen better days. They combined for 4-for-13 from deep Wednesday, neither causing any harm to Minnesota.
For the game, the Heat shot 24% from deep, compared to Minnesota’s 42%. Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson, both elevated in the rotation and with meatier roles, had nothing. Miami had to sacrifice Tyler Herro in the Giannis trade, and a few years earlier gave up on Duncan Robinson, who’s now dropping 3s in Detroit.
With seven minutes left and his team down 20 points, Giannis drove the lane against four collapsing defenders, meaning he didn’t have enough confidence in his teammates on the perimeter to throw them the ball. The tight defense annoyed him — perhaps the entire night did, too — and he was tagged with a flagrant for elbowing Terrance Shannon Jr.
Just 81 games to go. It can only go up from here for Giannis.
“Our effort has to be better,” he said. “It starts with me.”
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
