The second night of the 2026-27 NBA season brings an excellent Heat vs Timberwolves clash featuring two elite debuts: it will be Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first official game with the Florida franchise, as well as the one that opens the way for LaMelo Ball as a star sidekick to Anthony Edwards in Minneapolis.
Heat vs Timberwolves date and time
Date: 21 October 2026, early hours of the 22nd according to European time.
Time: These are the tip-off times for Heat vs Timberwolves depending on the time zone.
| The UK | 00:30 |
| Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela | 19:30 |
| Mexico (central), USA (Texas and Chicago), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua | 18:30 |
| Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles) | 16:30 |
| Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay | 20:30 |
| Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama | 19:30 |
Venue: Kaseya Center (Miami, Florida)
Heat vs Timberwolves starting lineups
The only notable absence (and it will be a long one) is Donte DiVincenzo, who is still recovering from the Achilles tendon rupture suffered in April 2026.
| HEAT | TIMBERWOLVES |
| Davion Mitchell | LaMelo Ball |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | Anthony Edwards |
| Andrew Wiggins | Jonathan Kuminga |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Jaden McDaniels |
| Bam Adebayo | Rudy Gobert |
Heat vs Timberwolves: best bet
Playing at home and with the eagerness Giannis Antetokounmpo must have to win over his new faithful, we back a Heat victory; that said, we expect Minnesota to put up a very tough fight.
Heat latest news: injuries and form
Miami Heat head into this debut with sky-high hopes, which is entirely logical after landing in the summer the signing of Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP.
The Greek’s arrival has completely changed the face of the team, which now aspires to be a genuine title contender; however, not everything that glitters is gold, and it remains to be seen whether the supporting cast is the right one not only for Giannis to produce his best version, but also to determine whether that is enough to take the Heat to the very top.
The rest of the squad has seen changes, but nothing drastic. With no injuries during preparation, Tim Hardaway Jr., who is set to start, and Klay Thompson, from whom a lot is expected from the perimeter, could be the barometer of a team that still has Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins as its main forwards.
Player to watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo
It can only be him. It is his first official game with the Miami Heat and he is set to begin making history in his new home. Moreover, he plays in front of his own fans, which will give him an extra boost of motivation. Last season, as has been the case for many years now, his numbers were monstrous: 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists. That is what he has delivered in Florida.
Timberwolves latest news: injuries and form
As we have already mentioned, they will not be able to count on Donte DiVincenzo during the regular season barring a major surprise, but they are not facing the campaign any less optimistically, since the arrival of LaMelo Ball in place of Julius Randle has been a breath of fresh air.
We are not going to uncover LaMelo now, whom head coach Chris Finch has already given a nudge, but we will see what Anthony Edwards’ Wolves can become alongside him. In principle he should be freer and more of an executor than a creator, but it remains to be seen how well that works for them.
Another major novelty is that Rudy Gobert is the sole big man on the roster and that they will play a forward like Jaden McDaniels at the ‘four’. Exactly, there is a desire to see them and get to know them.
Player to watch: LaMelo Ball
Talent, imagination, fun… LaMelo has arrived at the Timberwolves to give them a new present and future through his own style. Will it take him long to achieve this? Perhaps, but what is certain is that tomorrow night is an excellent moment to start.
Heat vs Timberwolves: head-to-head record
Incredible as it may seem, Miami and Minnesota arrive at this meeting level on 36 wins each, so whoever takes the point will move into the lead. And in more recent times? Well, the Wolves have almost completely dominated, with an 8-2 record in their favour.
Heat vs Timberwolves predictions
Giannis Antetokounmpo over 24.5 points. The Greek should dominate and lead the Heat’s attack, so we expect a huge offensive performance on his debut
Miami Heat -4.5 handicap. A close game, yes, but one in which the Florida side should come out on top to start their new era with a win.
Over 226.5 total points. We back a high pace in which attacks get the better of defences. It will not be a crazy game, but there will be entertainment at both ends of the court.
Where to watch Heat vs Timberwolves
The game between Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons can be watched in the UK through a NBA League Pass subscription and Amazon Prime.