Giannis Scores 35 in Heat Debut but Timberwolves Win 131-106
The two-time MVP scored Miami's first eight points and had 21 by halftime, but Minnesota won every quarter after the first in a 131-106 road win.
Key points
- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points in his Miami Heat debut on Wednesday night, and it was not enough.
- Antetokounmpo made his first shot 13 seconds into the game, a 16-foot pullup jumper, and scored Miami's first eight points.
- Miami still trailed by two after the first quarter, 34-32, and Minnesota won every quarter after that: 35-27 in the second, 30-22 in the third and 32-25 in the fourth.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points in his Miami Heat debut on Wednesday night, and it was not enough. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Heat 131-106 at Kaseya Center in the season opener for both teams.
Antetokounmpo made his first shot 13 seconds into the game, a 16-foot pullup jumper, and scored Miami's first eight points. He had 14 points in the first quarter and 21 by halftime on 8 of 10 shooting. He finished 13 of 19 from the field and 9 of 14 at the line, with six rebounds in just under 30 minutes.
Miami still trailed by two after the first quarter, 34-32, and Minnesota won every quarter after that: 35-27 in the second, 30-22 in the third and 32-25 in the fourth. Bam Adebayo scored 15 points for Miami. Davion Mitchell had 11 points and 10 assists. No other Heat player scored more than 11.
Two other early finals landed on the same night. The Atlanta Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 132-125 in Orlando, with 31 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and 35 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists from Paolo Banchero in the loss. The Charlotte Hornets won 110-103 at the Brooklyn Nets. Later games on the 11-game slate were still in progress when these finals were confirmed.
Why it matters
Antetokounmpo, a two-time Most Valuable Player, joined Miami in a June trade with the Milwaukee Bucks after a season cut to 36 games by calf injuries. He did not have a single 20-point half last season. He had one in his first half in Miami.
The gap around him is the early problem. Minnesota put up 131 points on the road and led by double digits for most of the second half. Miami's defense, not its new star, decided this game.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game that training camp and the preseason had gone well and that his team was facing a good Minnesota side that was excited about its own chance. Minnesota played like it.
What happens next
One game settles nothing in a long season, and Antetokounmpo's scoring line shows why Miami made the trade. The test now is the supporting cast and a defense that gave up 131 points at home on opening night. Minnesota leaves Miami 1-0 with a road win over a team many picked to contend in the East.