In their home opener, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a convincing 106-90 victory over a short-handed Miami Heat team, thanks in large part to a standout performance by Naz Reid, who contributed 25 points on an efficient 10-for-14 shooting in just 28 minutes coming off the bench.
Reid, a beloved figure among Timberwolves fans, showcased his scoring prowess by sinking consecutive 3-pointers during an 11-0 run by the Timberwolves in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with a 4-for-7 shooting performance from beyond the arc. The dominant display by Minnesota’s big men, including Rudy Gobert (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points, 10 rebounds), added to the Heat’s woes as they struggled down the stretch.
Anthony Edwards chipped in with 19 points for the Timberwolves, with a late scoring flurry sealing the win. Minnesota’s performance peaked with a 24-4 run over a seven-plus minute stretch that extended deep into the fourth quarter.
Heat played without Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love
For the Miami Heat (1-2), Tyler Herro led the scoring with 22 points, though he struggled with his shooting, going 8-for-23 from the field. Bam Adebayo contributed 19 points. The Heat played without key starters Jimmy Butler (rest) and Kevin Love (bruised left shoulder) due to the second half of a back-to-back schedule.
In addition to missing their starters, the Heat had three reserves on the injured list. This forced them to field a line-up featuring their last two first-round draft picks, Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2023) and Nikola Jovic (2022).
Tyler Herro, who had scored 28 points in the previous game against Boston, faced some difficulties from beyond the arc, going 4-for-11 on three-point attempts. Duncan Robinson, another sharpshooter for the Heat, struggled as well, making just two of his 10 three-point attempts.
Enter season with high expectations
The Minnesota Timberwolves had entered the season with high expectations but faced some challenges in their opening loss to Toronto, particularly with ball movement on offense. They were still without forward Jaden McDaniels, who has been dealing with a strained left calf. McDaniels had recently signed a $136 million contract extension with the team.
Naz Reid, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Timberwolves in a supporting role alongside Towns and Gobert, made a significant impact on the game. Reid played a pivotal role in securing the Timberwolves’ first lead with a short jumper, and he received substantial playing time in the fourth quarter, even surpassing Towns. Reid’s hustle and contributions were evident throughout the game.
The Miami Heat’s next matchup will be against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, while the Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Atlanta Hawks, also on Monday.
