The Timberwolves’ opening-night fireworks belonged to Anthony Edwards, the shot-making belonged to the new-look offense, and the 21 made 3-pointers told most of the story in a 131-106 win over the Miami Heat. But Rudy Gobert made sure Minnesota’s backbone showed up, too.
Gobert finished with five points and 15 rebounds, numbers that can get buried in a box score dominated by bigger scoring bursts. Still, his footprint was all over the game. Minnesota controlled the glass 52-34 against Miami’s elite frontcourt, and Gobert was at the center of that edge while also steering the defense the way he always does.
The on/off numbers from Cleaning the Glass were stark. With Gobert on the floor, Minnesota posted a defensive rating of 90.3.
Without him, that number jumped to 123.1. He also finished as the Wolves’ team-high plus-29.
Single-game splits can be slippery, but this one matched the eye test: Minnesota looked locked in with Gobert and vulnerable without him.
That became even clearer when the bench bigs entered the picture. Joan Beringer scored zero points and collected six rebounds, but he had trouble defensively and didn’t show much offensive feel. Trey Lyles added one point and one rebound, yet his rotations lagged and he didn’t bring much physicality on that end either.
Gobert didn’t block a shot, but he didn’t need to. His presence kept Miami away from the rim.
Just 25 percent of the Heat’s attempts came there, a mark that, per Cleaning the Glass, sits in the 22nd percentile. Doing that against a frontcourt featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo is no small thing.
The Wolves’ revamped offense and perimeter barrage were the headliners, but Gobert’s value was just as obvious. With Beringer unproven and Lyles not a high-end rotation piece, the margin for Minnesota gets thin fast when Gobert leaves the floor. That was a major offseason talking point, and Wednesday put it right in the spotlight.
The encouraging part for Minnesota is simple: when Gobert is out there, the defense looks excellent. The worrying part is equally clear: if he misses time or gets into foul trouble, the whole thing can fall apart. Wednesday’s opener drove that point home.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Open Season With An Early Test They Can't Ignore
The first test of Minnesotas season lands quickly, with the Timberwolves heading into Orlando for a game that already has a little edge to it. The Magic are listed as 1.5-point underdogs for the Oct. 23 matchup at Kia Center, and the early-season setting only sharpens the attention around a meeting that will be carried on DAZN-MIN, WRDQ and DAZN-ORL, with radio on FM 96.9 The Game.
Minnesota will have to sort through its own availability before tipoff, and the matchup looks just as unsettled on the other side of the floor. Orlandos injury report already has Noah Penda ruled out, while Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac and Izaiyah Nelson are all listed day-to-day, leaving both teams with questions before the opener even settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Edwards Turned Heat Bench Chatter Into A Superstar Reminder
A sideline back-and-forth in Miami turned into one of those nights that can follow a team long after the final buzzer. Anthony Edwards was the center of it during the Timberwolves win over the Heat, when a little bench chatter from Miami only seemed to sharpen his edge and reinforce just how quickly he can take over a game once he gets rolling.
Afterward, Edwards addressed the interaction, while Erik Spoelstra made clear the Heat would rather see that competitive fire kept under control. Gardner has a reputation for being willing to mix it up, and Miami likes that edge, but the takeaway was familiar enough for a veteran coach: pick your spots carefully when you are chirping at one of the leagues top scorers. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Already Put One Timberwolves Question In Focus
Jonathan Kumingas first run with Minnesota offered a quick snapshot of what the Timberwolves were hoping to see when they brought him in: a player who can slide into a defined role without needing the ball to be the story. In his debut against Miami, he looked comfortable enough on offense to chip in when needed, but the bigger value came in the way he handled the assignment and kept the game from drifting away from Minnesotas defensive structure.
The more interesting part is what it says about how the Wolves may use him going forward. Kuminga showed he can fit as a defender first, with just enough creation sprinkled in to keep defenses honest, and that kind of utility can matter even more once the competition tightens. The question now is whether that first impression was a one-night fit or the start of a much more important answer for Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]