Giannis Antetokounmpo's Heat Debut: 35 Points in a 131-106 Loss to the Timberwolves

The most anticipated debut of the NBA season did not go to plan. Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 35 points and six rebounds in his first game for the Miami Heat, but the Minnesota Timberwolves ran away with a 131-106 win in Miami on opening night.

The Stat Line vs. the Scoreboard

Giannis looked every bit the two-time MVP. He attacked the rim, got to the line and carried the offense. The problem was everything around him: he got little help from the supporting cast, and the defense was an even bigger issue. Minnesota scored at will, and the game was decided long before the fourth quarter.

Giannis did not hide from it afterward, sending a warning that the Heat have work to do.

The Trade That Changed Two Franchises

Miami paid a steep price to bring the former Bucks superstar to South Beach:

• To Milwaukee: Tyler Herro, plus reportedly Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and draft capital.
• To Miami: Giannis Antetokounmpo.

That is a lot of depth leaving one roster at once, and opening night showed why the Heat may need time to rebuild their rotation around their new star. Herro, meanwhile, is now leading the rebuilt Bucks. See how his first home game went in our Bulls vs. Bucks preview.

LaMelo Ball's Big Night in Minnesota

The other headline was on the winning side. LaMelo Ball made his official Timberwolves debut next to Anthony Edwards, and the pairing looked dangerous right away. Minnesota's revamped roster may take time to fully gel, but a 25-point road win in a hostile building is a strong first statement.

Other Opening Week Storylines

It was a wild first week of stars in new places:

• Kawhi Leonard debuted for Toronto after leaving the Clippers.
• Anthony Davis finally got back on the floor.
• Stephen Curry and the Warriors face questions after a rough start.
• The Knicks, defending champions, opened the season with a ring ceremony that produced headlines for all the wrong reasons. Read about the Knicks' ring phishing email.

What It Means for Miami

One game does not define a season, especially for a roster built almost overnight. Giannis remains one of the most dominant players in the world, and Miami's culture has a history of figuring things out as the year goes on. But the opener made one thing clear: the Heat need more from the players around their new franchise centerpiece.

If you are tracking the race for playoff spots, here is how the NBA Play-In Tournament works. Follow the whole season in our NBA coverage.