Timberwolves at Heat preview: Edwards vs. Giannis and Adebayo in Miami's home opener
The Timberwolves and Heat open the regular season Wednesday night at Kaseya Center, a rematch of a one-point Minnesota preseason win in the same building. Both teams closed the preseason with lopsided losses, and Minnesota is without Donte DiVincenzo.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 20 h ago01The story of the nightStakes and formBoth teams are 0-0, and this is the first game that counts.
Both teams are 0-0, and this is the first game that counts. The preseason gave fans something to argue about. Minnesota beat Miami 125-124 at Kaseya Center on October 10, then lost its last two exhibitions, 106-128 at home to Detroit and 116-133 at Chicago. Miami went 3-2 in the preseason, including a 144-128 win over Brooklyn, but closed with a 115-136 loss at Orlando. Last season the teams split two meetings in early January: Minnesota won 125-115 in Miami, then 122-94 at home three days later. Neither team is on a back-to-back, so both should be at full rest for the opener.
02Who is in and who is outMinnesota is missing Donte DiVincenzo, who is out with a right Achilles injury.
Minnesota is missing Donte DiVincenzo, who is out with a right Achilles injury. That thins the guard rotation behind Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu. The rest of the Timberwolves roster, including Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Terrence Shannon Jr., Bones Hyland and Trey Lyles, is available. Miami lists Vladislav Goldin as day-to-day with an ankle injury. Goldin is a reserve big, so the Heat's front line of Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis Jr. and Nick Richards is unaffected. Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell are all expected to be available for Miami.
03The matchup to watchBased on minutes last season, Minnesota's likely five is Edwards, McDaniels, Gobert, Ball and Dosunmu.
Based on minutes last season, Minnesota's likely five is Edwards, McDaniels, Gobert, Ball and Dosunmu. Miami's expected group is Adebayo, Wiggins, Antetokounmpo, Mitchell and Hardaway Jr. The key battle is in the paint. Gobert will likely draw Antetokounmpo, with Adebayo roaming as the second big. On the other end, McDaniels is the natural assignment for Antetokounmpo when Gobert stays home on Adebayo. Edwards against Wiggins and Mitchell is the perimeter test. Ball's playmaking and Dosunmu's defense give Minnesota a different backcourt look than last year, and Miami's Mitchell will test it on the ball.
04How to watch and whenTipoff is Wednesday, October 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Tipoff is Wednesday, October 21, at 7:30 p.m. ET from Kaseya Center in Miami. The game is a national broadcast on ESPN, so fans in both markets can watch it there. No local television listings are included for either team. Viewers in Minnesota should plan for a 6:30 p.m. CT start. Officials have not been announced. This is Miami's regular-season home opener and the first regular-season game for both teams.