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Giannis Antetokounmpo's first game in a Miami Heat uniform was expected to be a celebratory occasion, but it quickly turned into a one-sided affair as the Heat suffered their most lopsided home opener in two decades, falling 131-106 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The game began promisingly for Miami, with Antetokounmpo scoring his team's first eight points and surpassing 20 by the middle of the second quarter. Fans even showered him with "MVP" chants just 22 seconds into the contest. However, the night belonged to Minnesota's Anthony Edwards, who poured in 45 points and outshined the Heat's new superstar.
Antetokounmpo finished with 35 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, but he received little support from his teammates. The other Heat starters combined for just 43 points, two fewer than Edwards alone. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the humbling defeat, stating, "None of us like to be humbled like that. We'll get to it. We'll figure it out."
The loss was Miami's worst in a home opener since a 108-66 drubbing by the Chicago Bulls to start the 2006 season. Spoelstra noted that the team's offense didn't resemble its usual style, saying, "We didn't get many good looks. (Antetokounmpo) was a force of nature doing what he does, but it didn't look like us offensively. You have to give them credit. But we also did some things that were uncharacteristic."
Despite the disappointing result, Antetokounmpo's individual performance was impressive. He showcased why he may be the league's most difficult one-on-one cover, scoring at will from the paint and the free-throw line after an initial 17-foot jumper. The 6-foot-11 forward demonstrated his unique blend of size and agility, often finishing with dunks or drawing fouls. Yet it became clear that even a generational talent like Antetokounmpo cannot carry a team alone, especially when the opposing side features another generational player with ample support.
"We can't be that team," Antetokounmpo said. "If we are going to be that team, it will look like tonight."
Key Analysis
Bam Adebayo, expected to be Antetokounmpo's primary running mate, struggled early and finished with only eight points, save for a brief seven-point spurt in the third quarter. Klay Thompson, brought in for his outside shooting, was limited to 16 minutes due to foul trouble and scored 10 points. Tim Hardaway Jr., another offseason addition, missed six of his seven 3-point attempts. Defensively, Miami allowed Minnesota to shoot 42% from beyond the arc, with the Timberwolves making 21 of 50 attempts. Edwards alone hit nine 3-pointers, one more than the entire Heat team.
Edwards' performance etched his name alongside NBA legends. He and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players to score at least 40 points in back-to-back season openers, and Edwards joined Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players to score 40+ in an opener multiple times. Spoelstra described Edwards' night: "It became Edwards dribble dance trying to get to his air space, and he felt comfortable all night long."
Two of Edwards' 3-pointers came in the first 2:15 of the second half, pushing Minnesota's lead to 17 and prompting a Miami timeout. After the second, Edwards ran toward the Heat bench and veered toward a familiar face in the front row: Alex Rodriguez, the 14-time MLB All-Star and Timberwolves part owner, who was smiling broadly. The deficit eventually ballooned to 30 points, leaving the Heat searching for answers.
When asked how Miami can prevent this from becoming a trend, Antetokounmpo emphasized trust. "We got to trust one another," he said. "We weren't ourselves today."
Originally reported by yahoo.