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Basketball Aggregated: Yahoo Sports NBA
4 min read • 22 Oct 2026

Giannis stands out in Miami debut, but Timberwolves smoke the Heat

By: Top Tipper
Aggregated news from Yahoo Sports NBA Read Original Source ↗

Well that didn’t take long.

Two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, making his Miami Heat regular-season debut Wednesday, Oct. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, immediately imposed his will and erupted in the first half. The problem, however, for Antetokounmpo and the Heat is that the rest of the team fell woefully flat.

The Timberwolves, thanks to a 45-point outburst from All-Star guard Anthony Edwards and a 21-point showing from new guard LaMelo Ball, smoked the Heat, 131-106, in their regular season opener.

Antetokounmpo finished the game with 35 points on an efficient 13-of-19 shooting. He added 6 rebounds, but recorded only 1 assist, as many of his teammates missed their catch-and-shoot looks when Antetokounmpo found them. That was where Miami imploded: from deep.

The Heat shot just 8-of-33 (24.2%) from 3-point range, compared to Minnesota’s onslaught from beyond the arc, where the Timberwolves drained 21-of-50 (42%), creating a 39-point advantage on 3-pointers.

Antetokounmpo scored his first bucket just 13 seconds into the game, on a 16-foot pullup jumper he laced with ease after the Timberwolves dared him to shoot. That would be the last time Minnesota would do that. Antetokounmpo actually scored Miami’s first eight points of the game and dropped a 14-point quarter to introduce himself to his new fan base.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra empowered Antetokounmpo to handle the ball and attack the paint at will, especially in transition. Antetokounmpo, who played just 36 games last season in Milwaukee because of various calf injuries, used his size, handles and length to charge to the rim. Another byproduct: Antetokounmpo got to the line in the first half, hitting 5-of-8 attempts.

The Heat acquired Antetokounmpo in a June blockbuster deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Miami Heat debut highlightsHis first basket

Antetokounmpo crosses up Rudy Gobert

Antetokounmpo chirps at Anthony Edwards

Antetokounmpo takes two strides to get to the rim ... from the top of the key

Anthony Edwards highlights

Not to be outdone, Anthony Edwards went on an absolute heater.

He fell five points short of the NBA record for most points in a debut season opener, which Kyrie Irving holds. Edwards dropped 45 points on 16-of-29 shooting and rattled home 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. That means Edwards actually made one more 3-point basket than the entire Heat team.

He also added 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

LaMelo Ball Minnesota Timberwolves debut highlights

Antetokounmpo wasn’t the only new addition to shine; LaMelo Ball also made an immediate impact with his new team, scoring 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Ball’s perimeter shooting stretched the floor, and he was able to sink shots with flair, including one-legged 3-pointers while fading away.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis stands out in Miami debut, but Timberwolves smoke the Heat

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