- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Photo: Markus Spiske via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0. Team logos via ESPN.
Anthony Edwards erupted for 45 points and nine three-pointers to lead Minnesota past Miami 131-106 on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves star became the third player with multiple 40-point season openers, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. Chamberlain accomplished the feat four straight times from 1959 to 1962, while Jordan did so in 1986, 1989 and 1995. Edwards had scored 41 in last year's opener at Portland.
LaMelo Ball added 21 points in his Minnesota debut. Jaden McDaniels contributed 17 points, Ayo Dosunmu had 16 and Jonathan Kuminga finished with 12. Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds and Edwards pulled down 10 as Minnesota dominated the boards 52-34 and outscored Miami 63-24 from beyond the arc.
The Timberwolves broke the game open with a 23-7 run spanning the second and third quarters, during which Edwards and Ball combined for 17 points. Minnesota later unleashed a 45-23 burst in the third, with Edwards pouring in 18 points as Miami missed 11 of 12 three-point attempts.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points in his first game with Miami, including 21 in the first half, before fouling out. He shot 13 for 19 and added six rebounds. Bam Adebayo chipped in 15 points. The Heat have now lost three straight season openers for the third time in franchise history. Minnesota has won six of its last eight openers.
Source: ESPN - Wed Oct 21, 10:37 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).