Anthony Edwards spoiled Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut in Miami. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard put on a masterclass—recording 45 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 three-pointers—to dismantle the Heat’s new-look squad 131-106. The night began with high anticipation but ended with many fans heading for the exits before the final buzzer.
It was a textbook performance. Edwards connected on 16 of 29 field-goal attempts, including 9 of 17 from beyond the arc; he also added 3 assists and finished with a +27 plus-minus rating over his 33 minutes on the floor. The Heat had no answer at any point in the game—every time the ball touched Edwards’ hands, the home team’s defense would collapse like an accordion.
On the other side, Giannis Antetokounmpo did what he could, posting 35 points and 6 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes of play, shooting 13-of-19 from the field and 9-of-14 from the free-throw line. These are star-level numbers, certainly—but they also highlight a team that has yet to figure out how to play alongside him.
The rest of the Wolves squad stepped up as well. LaMelo Ball, Edwards’ new teammate in Minnesota, contributed 21 points, 5 three-pointers, and 6 assists. Jaden McDaniels added 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Ayo Dosunmu scored 16, Jonathan Kuminga 12, and Terrence Shannon Jr. 10. Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds—five of them on the offensive glass—though he finished with only 5 points, all coming from the free-throw line. In total, six visiting players reached double figures in scoring. The scene at the season opener was not what Miami had hoped for. The arena was largely empty, and most fans left their seats before the game had even concluded. That’s what happens when you kick off a new era with a 25-point loss at home—especially when the player who handed you that defeat racks up 45 points against you.
The trade sent shockwaves across the league. Milwaukee acquired Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis, along with draft picks. Miami brought in Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, the latter of whom debuted with 7 points and 4 rebounds. The “Greek Freak” left Milwaukee after 13 seasons, a tenure that included winning back-to-back MVP awards (2019 and 2020) and the 2021 championship, during which he was also named Finals MVP.
The trade can be viewed from two different perspectives. For Milwaukee, the return package offers youth and flexibility: Herro provides immediate perimeter shooting, Ware and Jaquez Jr. are rotation players with room to grow, and Jakucionis is a long-term investment. For Miami, everything is focused on the short term—Antetokounmpo’s window of contention isn’t infinite, and the rest of the roster fell short in its first real test.
For the home side, Bam Adebayo recorded 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Davion Mitchell posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists. Andrew Wiggins added 11 points, and Klay Thompson chipped in 10, including three three-pointers. These were merely supporting-cast numbers for a team that needs much more if it hopes to compete in the Eastern Conference.
