Anthony Edwards scores 45 as Minnesota beat Miami 131-106

Anthony Edwards 45 points against Miami

Anthony Edwards decided the game with 45 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes as Minnesota won 131-106 in Miami. His line turned a close first quarter into a 25-point away win.

The comparison with last season shows how far above his usual level he played. Edwards averaged 27.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 71 games in 2025/2026, so both his scoring and rebounding sat well beyond those marks.

He was already an established force, ranking 21st of 260 rated players in the league by TeamKeys Rating last season with a mark of 94.8. His PIR of 42 was the highest of anyone on the floor.

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How did Anthony Edwards score 45 against the Heat?

Edwards built most of his 45 from beyond the arc, making 9/17 from three. He added 7/12 inside the arc and 4/5 from the free-throw line.

Because he went to the line only five times, almost all the damage came in open play. That made him hard to plan for, as Miami had to guard him both on the perimeter and on drives.

His work did not stop at scoring. Edwards collected 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, with 4 turnovers the only blemish on the night.

Why Miami could not keep up with Minnesota

Miami could not keep up because Minnesota won every quarter: 34-32, 35-27, 30-22 and 32-25. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35, but the Heat had no answer to the Timberwolves' spread of scoring.

Antetokounmpo was efficient close to the rim, shooting 13/17 from two and 9/14 from the line, though he missed both of his threes. Bam Adebayo, 8th in the league by TeamKeys Rating last season, finished with 15 points against a 2025/2026 average of 19.9.

Edwards also had steady support. LaMelo Ball added 21 points and 6 assists, Jaden McDaniels scored 17 on 7/8 from two, and Ayo Dosunmu gave 16 off the bench. Jonathan Kuminga chipped in 12 points and 4 steals, while Davion Mitchell's 11 assists for Miami came with 5 turnovers.

What next for Minnesota and Miami after 131-106?

Minnesota sit third of 30 at 1-0 and face the Orlando Magic on 23 October. Miami are 27th at 0-1 and play the Detroit Pistons on 24 October.

For the Timberwolves, the question is how much of this scoring Edwards can carry into the next game. For the Heat, the task is finding scoring around Antetokounmpo so one big night is not left standing alone.