Timberwolves shake off doldrums, beat Heat 125-115

Chirs Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan 3, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MIAMI — The only thing predictable about the Minnesota Timberwolves is their unpredictability.

After turning in two of their worst performances of the season over the previous three games, the Wolves came out an turned in an impressive 125-115 victory over the scrappy Miami Heat.

The Wolves had an efficient night offensively with multiple players clicking. Anthony Edwards had it going early for 33 points while Naz Reid (29 points) and Julius Randle (23 points) helped the team navigate Rudy Gobert foul trouble in the third quarter.

What it means

The volatile Wolves came into Miami after playing two low-energy games in their last three. The last one in Atlanta featured Edwards throwing a towel in the air and leaving the game in the middle of the fourth quarter.

They had two days to regroup in Miami. On paper this game set up like a potential continuation of their struggles; Miami plays a fast-pace, high-energy brand of basketball that was going to test the Wolves in that area.

They were up to the challenge. The question, as it has been for the Wolves all season, is to make efforts like this the norm.

How it happened

Edwards started the night with 14 of the Wolves’ 27 first-quarter points as the Wolves opened up a nine-point lead. But Miami’s fast-paced offense got in gear toward the end of the quarter to cut that lead to two behind seven from Nikola Jovic.

The Wolves took a 10-point lead in the second behind an 8-0 run that featured a pretty pass from Edwards to Gobert and a Bones Hyland steal, which led a layup from Randle. The Wolves led 56-50 at the half. The Wolves had a small lead most of the night until Gobert got in foul trouble in the third quarter with four fouls. The Heat took a 68-66 lead on a Norman Powell 3 at the 6:55 mark.

The Wolves offense saved them in the quarter as Randle scored 12 and Reid had 11 to give the Wolves a 90-86 lead entering the fourth. They held the Heat scoreless the first 2:08 of the fourth quarter as they took their largest lead of the game to that point, 97-86. But even after the Heat scored a few buckets, the Wolves kept pouring it on with Edwards resting. Bones Hyland had a couple layups while Reid got a 3-point play and Donte DiVincenzo hit his first 3 of the night to put the Wolves up 109-90 and force another Heat timeout.

1,200 3s for Edwards

Edwards crossed 1,200 3s made in his career. With that, Edwards became the first player in NBA history to hit the mark before turning 25. Edwards had a league leading 320 3s last season after making 190 the previous season.

Up next

The Wolves play a back-to-back against the Wizards in Washington on Sunday.

____