In an offseason full of change across the NBA, few teams look more different than the Timberwolves and Heat. Minnesota reshuffled its roster, trading away Julius Randle in exchange for LaMelo Ball. On the other side, Miami put together a package to acquire two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks. With new faces in new places, which of these squads will come out on top during tonight’s season-opening showdown?
The Heat enter Wednesday’s matchup as 1.5-point favorites, with the total set at 243.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Wednesday’s Minnesota vs. Miami matchup.
Timberwolves at Heat prediction, preview
As previously mentioned, LaMelo Ball is the newest piece of the puzzle for the Timberwolves. After coming up short in the postseason five seasons in a row, Minnesota’s front office decided to make a drastic move. It wasn’t just Randle that left town; former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid was shipped to Charlotte. Not to be overlooked, midseason acquisition Ayo Dosunmu was re-signed as well. In the span of a few months, this roster has gone from bully ball to backcourt dependent.
Anthony Edwards remains the face of the franchise, poised for another terrific campaign. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game to go with 49/40/80 shooting splits. It’s worth noting that the Georgia alum was tied for fourth in the NBA with 3.4 three-pointers made per game. Ball was even better in that regard (3.8 3PM), third-best in the association. There’s no reason to think the two can’t combine for over seven treys every night. Minnesota’s defensive identity should remain intact, so long as rim protector Rudy Gobert stays healthy. On the wings, Jaden McDaniels is the ultimate pest for opposing scorers.
Miami made arguably the offseason’s biggest splash, pulling the trigger on a long-anticipated trade for Antetokounmpo. It’s a classic Heat blockbuster, turning this group from Eastern Conference afterthought to contender overnight. The prolific power forward is one of the game’s all time greats, providing elite two-way play. Last season with Milwaukee, the Greek Freak posted 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. On the other end of the floor, he racked up 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks. However, Antetokounmpo only managed to suit up 36 times for the rebuilding Bucks. A more motivated superstar will be taking the floor on Wednesday.
Making things even tougher on opponents, Antetokounmpo will be pairing up with fellow All-Star Bam Adebayo. Together, they form the NBA’s best defensive duo on paper. Andrew Wiggins is also a terrific piece to have at forward. After that, things get a bit dicey. The Heat are especially weak in the back court, with Davion Mitchell serving as the team’s only proven ball handler. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is more than capable of figuring it out going forward, but this offense will have some growing pains.
Best Bet: Timberwolves ML (-102)
It’s unlikely Miami comes out of the gates firing on offense. That’s due in large part to today’s opponents, a defensively stout Timberwolves club. Last season, the Heat were tied for the NBA’s seventh-most three pointers allowed per game (14.0 3PM). Slowing down both Ball and Edwards could prove difficult for an uninspiring backcourt. At even money, I like the visitors to start the season with a win.
