The Heat trailed 62-56 at the break after seven lead changes and seven ties, then got run off their home court. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35, and Miami still had no answer for Edwards.
Run Off Home
Minnesota beat Miami 131-106 on Wednesday, and the second half was not a game. The first half was a fight: seven lead changes, seven ties, and Miami never ahead by more than 4. The Wolves' biggest lead was 8, built on two 8-0 runs, one in each quarter. They led 62-56 at the break. After that, Miami stopped competing at the level this program demands.
Where It Turned
The final two minutes before halftime set the tone. Jonathan Kuminga blocked a shot, then buried a three off an Edwards feed. Adebayo answered with a driving dunk set up by Davion Mitchell. Ayo Dosunmu then scored a floater through a Klay Thompson foul and made the free throw. Antetokounmpo threw the ball away to Jaden McDaniels and gave it up again two trips later. A good team punishes a careless finish like that, and Minnesota did.
The Grades
Antetokounmpo, B. He scored 35, with 21 of them in the first half on 8-of-9 shooting in 14 minutes, but the two late giveaways cost him the top grade. Bobby Portis Jr., B-plus. He had 7 points on 3-of-4, a steal, a block and a +4 off the bench before the break. Andrew Wiggins, D. He shot 3-of-6 with one rebound and finished -12 in 13 first-half minutes. Adebayo, C-minus. Two steals and three assists do not cover 3-of-7 shooting and a -11.
Plus And Minus
Tim Hardaway Jr. went +5 in 10 minutes and Pelle Larsson +5 in 8. Thompson finished at the bottom, -13 in 9 minutes with three fouls by halftime. The starters outscored the bench 42 to 14 in the first half, which leaves the second unit too little margin. Edwards finished with 45 points and 10 rebounds and had 19 at the half on 8-of-14. Miami spent the preseason talking about building an elite defense, according to the Miami Herald. Giving up 131 at home is the opposite of that.
Bottom Line
Miami is 0-1, sits 14th and is one game behind sixth-place Charlotte. The Pistons come to Miami on Friday, and the Heat play at the Hornets the next night. That leaves two days to fix the effort and the ball security before a back-to-back tests their conditioning. This team does not get to call that a learning experience.
What was the final score of Heat vs Timberwolves?
Minnesota won 131-106 in Miami. Anthony Edwards scored 45 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Heat with 35.
When do the Heat play next?
Miami hosts the Pistons on Friday, October 23, then plays at the Hornets the next night, the back end of a back-to-back.
