NBA: Edwards scores 45 to spoil Giannis' Heat debut; Ty Jerome sets Grizzlies record
Anthony Edwards hit nine threes in a 131-106 Timberwolves rout of Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami, Ty Jerome scored a Memphis opening-night record 45, and Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard starred for new teams.
At a glance
- Anthony Edwards scored 45 points with nine three-pointers as Minnesota beat Miami 131-106, spoiling Giannis Antetokounmpo's Heat debut (35 points).
- Edwards joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players with 40-point games in more than one season opener.
- Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 in Memphis' 123-103 win over Utah, breaking Ja Morant's franchise opening-night record of 44.
- Anthony Davis had 34 points and 12 rebounds in his Washington debut in a 128-116 win over Milwaukee; Kawhi Leonard scored 23 as Toronto crushed Chicago 135-92.
- Tyrese Haliburton returned from a ruptured Achilles with 23 points in Indiana's 123-120 win at New Orleans.
Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and hit nine three-pointers as the Minnesota Timberwolves thrashed the Miami Heat 131-106 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, ruining Giannis Antetokounmpo's debut for Miami on the busiest night of the NBA's opening week. In Memphis, Ty Jerome poured in a career-high 45 to set a Grizzlies opening-night record, while several stars who changed teams in a dramatic off-season made winning starts.
Wednesday's results
| Away | Score | Home | Top performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 131–106 | Miami Heat | Anthony Edwards 45 pts, 10 reb (MIN) |
| Utah Jazz | 103–123 | Memphis Grizzlies | Ty Jerome 45 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast (MEM) |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 116–128 | Washington Wizards | Anthony Davis 34 pts, 12 reb (WSH) |
| Chicago Bulls | 92–135 | Toronto Raptors | Leonard, Barnes, Quickley 23 each (TOR) |
| Atlanta Hawks | 132–125 | Orlando Magic | Nickeil Alexander-Walker 31 (ATL); Paolo Banchero 35 pts, 10 ast (ORL) |
| Charlotte Hornets | 110–103 | Brooklyn Nets | Julius Randle 33 (BKN); Grayson Allen 21 (CHA) |
| Indiana Pacers | 123–120 | New Orleans Pelicans | Pascal Siakam 30 (IND) |
| Dallas Mavericks | 110–128 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. 30 each (HOU); Cooper Flagg 32 (DAL) |
Late games on the West Coast, including the Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers, were still being completed at the time of writing.
Edwards joins Chamberlain and Jordan
Edwards shot 16 of 29 from the field and 9 of 17 from three, adding 10 rebounds. He scored 41 in last season's opener in Portland, and now joins Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players to score 40 or more in more than one season opener. A 23-7 Minnesota run across the second and third quarters turned a one-point game into a 78-61 lead, and the Wolves outscored Miami 63-24 from three-point range and won the rebounding battle 52-34. LaMelo Ball, acquired from Charlotte in the summer, scored 21 in his Minnesota debut, and Rudy Gobert pulled down 15 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo, who joined Miami after leaving Milwaukee, scored 35 on 13-of-19 shooting — 21 of them in the first half — but fouled out. Miami has now lost three straight season openers.
Jerome breaks Morant's record
Jerome, handed the starting point guard job after Ja Morant was traded to Portland, made 17 of 25 shots and 5 of 10 threes. He had 13 points in the first quarter and left to a standing ovation in the final minute. His 45 beat Morant's franchise opening-night mark of 44 and his own previous career best of 33. Memphis led by as many as 27 points; Jaren Jackson Jr., traded to Utah in February, scored 15 on his return before fouling out.
New faces, big returns
- Anthony Davis had 34 points and 12 rebounds in his first game for Washington, with Trae Young adding 20 points and 13 assists, as the Wizards beat a Bucks team now without Antetokounmpo. No. 1 draft pick AJ Dybantsa sat out with an ankle injury.
- Kawhi Leonard scored 23 in his return to Toronto, where he won the 2019 title, as the Raptors forced 27 Chicago turnovers.
- Tyrese Haliburton scored 23 with 12 assists in his first regular-season game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon 16 months ago, helping Indiana edge New Orleans.
- Kyrie Irving played his first regular-season game since tearing his ACL in March 2025, scoring 15 for Dallas, whose rookie star Cooper Flagg led all Mavericks with 32.
Why it matters
The 2026-27 season opened after one of the busiest off-seasons in NBA history, with Antetokounmpo, Davis, Ball, Morant and Leonard all in new uniforms. Early results matter for confidence and for fans across the world, including in South Asia, where NBA games stream live on weekday mornings.
What happens next
Most teams play again on Friday and Saturday (US time). Miami will look for its first win after the heavy defeat, and the result of the late Lakers–Warriors game and the rest of the West Coast schedule will be added to our next roundup.
Questions people are asking
How many points did Anthony Edwards score against the Heat?
Anthony Edwards scored 45 points on 16-of-29 shooting, including 9-of-17 from three, with 10 rebounds as the Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat 131-106 on October 21, 2026.
How did Giannis Antetokounmpo do in his Heat debut?
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting with six rebounds in his first game for Miami, but he fouled out and the Heat lost 131-106 to Minnesota.
What record did Ty Jerome break?
Ty Jerome's 45 points against Utah were the most by a Memphis Grizzlies player in a season opener, beating Ja Morant's 44, and were a career high, well above his previous best of 33.
