Miami waited a long time for a superstar like this. His first night in a Heat uniform did not go as planned.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points in his Miami Heat debut, but the Minnesota Timberwolves rolled to a 131 to 106 win on opening night, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. He got to the free throw line 14 times, showing his usual aggression attacking the rim.
What did Giannis Antetokounmpo say after the loss?
Giannis Antetokounmpo pointed to trust as the biggest area for improvement, using the word at least five times while speaking with reporters. The team has to trust each other and dig in when things go wrong, he said, and it did not do that.
He also took responsibility, saying the team’s effort has to be better and that it starts with him because he sets the tone. Despite his big scoring night, he made clear he was not satisfied.
It is only one game, he added, but Miami looked completely different on both ends than it did in preseason.
How did Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball hurt the Heat?
Minnesota’s new backcourt pairing caught fire from long range. Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and made 9 of 17 attempts from deep. LaMelo Ball added 21 points, hitting 5 of 13 from beyond the arc. Ball joined Minnesota this offseason after years as the face of the Charlotte Hornets.
The Timberwolves made 21 shots from deep as a team, many of them well beyond the line.
Giannis Antetokounmpo said the duo can hit shots that defeat an opponent’s spirit. When Edwards got hot, he said, the Heat became discouraged, and they needed to be more physical with him.
Edwards joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan in rare company with another opener of at least 40 points.
Where did the Heat struggle?
Shooting and rebounding. Miami made just 24% of its shots from deep, a worrying sign for a supporting cast expected to space the floor around its stars.
The smaller Timberwolves outrebounded the Heat 52 to 34, including 17 to 4 on the offensive glass.
A fellow Heat star said the game was a stepping stone. As a bigger team now, he said, the Heat must stay patient on offense when fatigued and swarm on defense.
Multiple players also said the team did not communicate enough on the floor. Communication had been a focus throughout training camp as the team worked to blend new and returning players.
Why might the Heat need time?
The roster is still coming together. Miami added several veterans this offseason, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson and Bobby Portis, to a core led by Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell.
The starting group played only two preseason games together because Adebayo was limited by a minor groin injury. Thompson, who won four titles with Golden State, gives Miami another proven shooter.
How did Heat fans greet Giannis Antetokounmpo?
With plenty of excitement. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the biggest star Miami has landed since the big three era of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Antetokounmpo won two MVP awards and a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks before joining Miami.
Hundreds of fans watched him warm up two hours before tipoff, recording his routine on their phones. Fans chanted MVP within the first few minutes, and they stayed loud late in the fourth quarter even after the outcome was decided.
The Heat host the Detroit Pistons on Friday, giving Giannis Antetokounmpo and his new teammates a quick chance to respond. Early struggles are common for teams with so many new pieces, and the season is long.
