Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and made nine 3-pointers Wednesday night, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Miami Heat 131-106 in the 2026-27 season opener at Miami. The performance put Edwards in rare company and spoiled Giannis Antetokounmpo's first game with the Heat.

Joining a short list

Edwards now has two season openers with at least 40 points, after scoring 41 at Portland last year. According to the Associated Press, only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan had done that before. Chamberlain did it four times in a row from 1959 through 1962; Jordan did it in 1986, 1989 and 1995.

Edwards finished 16-for-29 from the field and 9-for-17 from deep in a little over 33 minutes, adding 10 rebounds. His nine 3-pointers were one more than the Heat made as a team (8-for-33).

"Fire," Edwards said at his locker when told of the stat, according to the AP. He also said a Miami bench player's trash talk fueled his intensity.

How did Minnesota pull away?

Minnesota's perimeter shooting decided the game. The Timberwolves made 21 3-pointers on 50 attempts and outscored Miami 63-24 from beyond the arc, per CBS Sports. They also outrebounded the Heat 52-34.

A 23-7 run late in the second quarter and into the third turned a one-point lead into 78-61. After Miami closed within eight, Minnesota answered with a 45-23 burst, with Edwards scoring 18 in that stretch.

LaMelo Ball had 21 points and six assists in his Timberwolves debut. Jaden McDaniels scored 17, Ayo Dosunmu 16 and Jonathan Kuminga 12, while Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds.

What went wrong for Miami?

Antetokounmpo, acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason, scored 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting but fouled out. Bam Adebayo added 15. Miami shot 24% from long range and lost its third straight season opener, the third time in franchise history that has happened.

"We got tested," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, according to the AP.

FAQ

How many 3-pointers did Anthony Edwards make?

Edwards made nine of 17 attempts from beyond the arc, one more than the entire Heat team.

When do the Timberwolves play next?

Minnesota visits the Orlando Magic on Friday at 6 p.m., while Miami hosts Detroit the same night.