The Heat got a front-row look at what can happen when Anthony Edwards catches a rhythm, and Myron Gardner’s chirping from the bench seemed to pour gasoline on the fire.
On Wednesday night at Kaseya Center, Miami was blown out 131-106 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Edwards did a large share of the damage from deep. He hit nine three-pointers, one more than the entire Heat team and nine more than Gardner, who didn’t check in until garbage time.
Afterward, Edwards was asked about the back-and-forth with the Heat bench and said it had the right effect.
"I think it kind of crunk me up," Edwards said with a smile. "He was talking pretty crazy.
When I start talking to him, he didn’t really have too much more to say. I don’t really like that.
If you gonna talk shit, keep talking shit. Don’t get quiet."
When I followed up and asked if he meant "Myron," Edwards smiled again and said, "I don't know his name."
Gardner has built a reputation for getting under people’s skin, and the Heat have been willing to live with that edge because they believe it fits his profile. Miami also values the developing three-and-D part of his game. But after Edwards torched them, the organization seemed to draw a line on how far that edge should go.
The team did not make Gardner available to the media after Thursday’s practice, and Erik Spoelstra sounded notably more guarded than he has in the past when talking about Gardner’s approach.
“I love Myron’s competitive spirit, but we also lso have to be smart about it," Spoelstra told reporters. "I particularly don’t want him trash talking to the other team’s best scorers, especially when he’s not out there. But he’s got a good heart.”
That’s a different tone from the way Spoelstra has handled Gardner before. Gardner has already found himself in more than one confrontation early in his NBA career, including a heated exchange with Scotty Pippen Jr. of the Grizzlies that turned physical, spilled into the seats and led to $35,000 fines for both sides.
On that occasion, Pippen said: "I thought it was kind of a cheap shot. He kind of hit me when I didn't see him so I thought it was a soft move. I just thought maybe he needed a hug on the other end."
Spoelstra has previously backed Gardner’s behavior, but this time the response felt different, and Edwards’ barrage clearly played a part in that shift. Gardner’s brand of Mayhem, the nickname he endorsed last month at media day on Five on the Floor, may still have a place in Miami. The Heat, though, seem to be learning there’s a point where the act needs to be dialed back.
That issue could come up again Friday against Detroit, whether Gardner is on the bench or in uniform. Cade Cunningham, after all, is not the kind of player you want helping the temperature rise either.
In Other News...
Shaq Just Put Minnesotas LaMelo Ball Situation Under A Real Spotlight
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Shaquille ONeal, though, clearly saw it differently and used the segment to put Minnesotas bigger-picture pressure on display. ONeal pushed back on Balls approach and framed the move to Minnesota as the kind of addition that should raise the teams ambitions in a major way, which is exactly why the exchange landed as more than just a quick TV moment. It also underscored how much attention Balls fit with Edwards is already drawing, even before the season really gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Opening Night Exposed One Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Minnesota opened its regular-season schedule with a win over Miami, but the bigger takeaway from opening night was how much the Timberwolves leaned on their new backcourt to survive the early push. Anthony Edwards led the way with a huge scoring night, while LaMelo Ball added timely perimeter shooting in a debut that gave the offense a different kind of juice. The guard play was the clear strength, and it helped Minnesota mask some of the uneven stretches that showed up elsewhere.
The frontcourt, though, is already something to watch. Minnesota had trouble early defending a bigger, physical attack, and the game turned into a reminder that the Wolves can be stretched when opponents go after their smaller bigs. The good news was that the team tightened things up after halftime and found a way to limit Bam Adebayos influence, but the questions around how this group handles elite interior pressure are not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Send An Early Message Against Miamis New-Look Team
Minnesotas season opener offered an early look at how much the Timberwolves can still dictate terms against a reworked Miami roster. Giannis Antetokounmpo made his Miami debut with 35 points, the most ever by a player in a debut for the Heat, but the Wolves still came away with the win and gave the new-look group plenty to sort through after one night.
For Miami, the issues went beyond one stars scoring burst. The Heat had trouble generating help around him, and the glass was an issue too, which made it hard for them to get the kind of open-floor opportunities they want. Minnesota, meanwhile, left with a result that felt bigger than a single October game, especially with Anthony Edwards continuing to be a problem for Miami whenever these teams line up. [Read more 🡒]