Ant Joins Wilt and Mike, Kessler Can't Miss, and Giannis' Miami Debut Gets Spoiled: Night Two of the NBA Season Had Everything

By Jordan Pierce, RF Sports Radio NBA voice

NBA fans, opening night gave us comebacks. Night two gave us history. Anthony Edwards joined a two-man club that starts with Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, and a 7-foot-2 center in purple and gold did not miss a shot.

The facts

In Miami, the Timberwolves beat the Heat 131-106, spoiling Giannis Antetokounmpo's first game with Miami, per the AP. Edwards scored 45 points with nine 3-pointers and 10 rebounds. He scored 41 in last season's opener, and the AP says he joins only Chamberlain and Jordan as players with at least 40 points in multiple openers. LaMelo Ball scored 21 in his Minnesota debut, Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds, and Minnesota outscored Miami 63-24 from three and outrebounded the Heat 52-34. Antetokounmpo scored 35 on 13-of-19 shooting before fouling out.

In Los Angeles, the Lakers beat the Warriors 127-105, per the AP. Walker Kessler scored 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds in his Lakers debut. That is the second-most made shots without a miss in Lakers history, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 14-for-14 in March 1969. Luka Doncic scored 28 in three quarters with eight rebounds and seven assists, Austin Reaves added 23, and Stephen Curry scored 23 to open his 18th season. Doncic and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg went at each other all half; Lendeborg was given a technical.

In Houston, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 each as the Rockets beat the Mavericks 128-110, per the AP. Tonight on ESPN, Cleveland visits Philadelphia at 6 p.m. Central and Denver visits Oklahoma City at 8:30 p.m. Central, per NBA.com.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: Edwards is the best pure scorer in the league right now, and I will argue it with anybody who calls in. Forty-five with nine threes against a team that just added a two-time MVP is a statement. Add LaMelo Ball as a second creator, and Minnesota's offense finally has the balance it needed.

The Kessler trade looks brilliant after one night. Doncic wanted a rim-running center, and the Lakers paid a lot of draft capital for one. Twelve shots without a miss is exactly what Luka's passing makes possible. The Lakers after LeBron look younger, bigger and nastier.

Miami should worry, but not panic. Giannis scored 35. The problem was giving up 63 points from three. That is a scheme issue, and Miami has always been good at fixing scheme issues.

My call: Wolves join Detroit and OKC in my top three in Friday's power rankings, and the Lakers sneak into the top eight. That is opinion, not a report.

What to watch next

Tonight: Cavs at Sixers and Nuggets at Thunder on ESPN. Friday: Mavericks at Indiana. For the opening-night tripleheader, read our Oct. 21 NBA opening-night column, and follow the NBA page all season.

Radio question: what was the bigger night-two statement — Ant's 45, Kessler's perfect debut, or Houston's rout of the Mavs?

Sources: NBA.com / AP — Anthony Edwards scores 45, Wolves roll past Heat 131-106; ESPN / AP — Walker Kessler has perfect Lakers debut in 127-105 win over Warriors; ESPN / AP — Rockets 128, Mavericks 110; NBA.com — Every NBA game on ABC and ESPN in 2026-27.