Anthony Edwards scores 45, Wolves roll past Heat 131-106 to spoil Giannis' opener

MIAMI (AP) — Anthony Edwards hit nine 3-pointers and scored 45 points to join an elite club, LaMelo Ball scored 21 in his Minnesota debut and the Timberwolves spoiled Giannis Antetokounmpo's first game with Miami by beating the Heat 131-106 on Wednesday night.

Edwards, who scored 41 in last season's opener at Portland, joined only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as players with at least 40 points in multiple openers. Chamberlain did it four times — consecutively from 1959 through 1962 — and Jordan did it in 1986, 1989 and 1995.

Jaden McDaniels scored 17, Ayo Dosunmu had 16 and Jonathan Kuminga added 12 for the Timberwolves, who won for the sixth time in their last eight season openers. Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds and Edwards had 10 for Minnesota, which outscored Miami 63-24 on 3-pointers and outrebounded the Heat 52-34.

Antetokounmpo scored 35 before fouling out of his Heat debut, 21 of those points coming in the first half. Bam Adebayo scored 15 for Miami, which has dropped three consecutive season-openers — the third time in franchise history that's happened.

Antetokounmpo was 13 for 19 from the floor and had six rebounds. It still wasn't anywhere near enough to keep the Heat close in the opener.

Minnesota took command with a six-minute burst that started late in the second quarter and continued early into the third. It wound up as a 23-7 run, one that turned a one-point Timberwolves lead into a 78-61 edge. Edwards and Ball combined for 17 points during that spurt, while the Heat missed six of nine shots and turned the ball over on four possessions.

Miami was within eight midway through the third quarter, before Minnesota went on a 45-23 run. Edwards had 18 in that burst, while Miami missed on 11 of 12 3-point tries.

Timberwolves: Visit Orlando on Friday.

Heat: Host Detroit on Friday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) passes as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (4) and forward Trey Lyles (41) run down court during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) scores during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) goes for the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) looks for an opening past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) clashes with Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

TOKYO (AP) — The president of the Asian Football Confederation gave no hint Thursday about the body's support — or opposition — to the re-election of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president.

The votes of the AFC's 47 members could be critical when Infantino seeks his fourth term in an election in March. Infantino faces strong opposition in Europe, has staunch support in Africa — and Asia could provide the swing votes.

Opposition candidates have until Nov. 18 to file. So far, none has.

“For people who try to divide us this is not going to happen,” AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said in a brief address to close a two-day session in Tokyo.

He gave no indication that the AFC as a body would take a position on Infantino.

That was different from just over two months ago when the AFC joined the soccer governing bodies in North and Central America and Europe saying Infantino committed a “fundamental breach of trust.”

Recent reports and his short talk on Thursday indicate Sheikh Salman may have moderated his views. Asia appears split. Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, has come out in support of Infantino while Jordan has declared its opposition.

“We’re not against anyone and we’re not in favor of anyone,” Sheikh Salman said. “We're always going to express our feelings and try to do what’s best and what’s right for football. Not just in Asia.”

The meetings in a five-star hotel in Tokyo were closed to the media. The conference was shown on the AFC’s YouTube channel, orchestrated presentations without reporters present.

Infantino seldom speaks with the media and has been been traveling and electioneering in Asia but did not appear publicly at the seminars in Tokyo. FIFA's media office during the week promoted his presence in Bhutan and Bangladesh, small federations that each have one vote — the same as powerful soccer nations such as Spain and France.

Infantino apologized last week in Zurich to FIFA’s 37-member ruling council — which he chairs — for "mistakes" he made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2 billion sell-off plan for the World Cup.

An Associated Press tally shows 87 of the 211 federations have indicated support for Infantino, either in individual comments or by endorsing statements of support by their regional confederations.

Sheikh Salman made passing reference to the turmoil in the Middle East and its affect on soccer in the region.

“We know that the world is changing and football, I think, gets affected as well from what’s happening," he said, "whether it’s political, economical or whatever it is.

"People are following the news, what's happening in the Middle East. It’s important for us.”

The Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January was going ahead despite deadly attacks in the country by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, said Muhammed Q. Alghamdi, a spokesman for the organizing committee. There is a rising fear of an escalation in hostilities.

The Asian Cup is set for Jan. 7-Feb. 5 with 24 teams playing matches in three cites — Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar. Reports suggest it may be too late to seek an alternative venue.

“I’d like to start by acknowledging that we are monitoring the regional developments and we’re working closely with our counterparts at the AFC to make sure we can provide an exceptional tournament," Alghamdi said.

“I stand before you now and I am pleased to say that daily life is ongoing in Saudi Arabia. Our job is to be ready, and we will be ready.”

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

FILE - Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain looks on during an extraordinary FIFA congress in Zurich, Switzerland Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)