NBA Recap 2026 Timberwolves Dominate Heat 122-94 Behind Anthony Edwards 26 Points

The biggest story for the Miami Heat on Tuesday night was the return of Tyler Herro, who had missed the previous 11 games due to a persistent toe injury. In a surprise tactical move by coach Erik Spoelstra, Herro came off the bench for just the fourth time in the last four seasons. While Herro looked comfortable individually by scoring 17 points, his presence in the second unit did not immediately translate to team success. Herro played with a clear intent to not disrupt the starting lineups rhythm, focusing on playmaking and quick kick outs, but the Heat struggled to integrate him effectively into the flow of the game after such a long layoff.

Timberwolves Physicality and Defensive Masterclass

The Minnesota Timberwolves proved to be too big and too physical for a scrawny Miami roster. Led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 26 points despite dealing with a minor foot injury, the Wolves dominated the second half of the game. Minnesota's "Twin Towers" of Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle both recorded double doubles, with Gobert grabbing 17 rebounds and Randle adding 15 points and 11 boards. The Timberwolves defense was the real star of the night, holding Miami to a dismal 36% shooting from the field. Minnesotas ability to sit back and contain Miamis isolation attacks forced the Heat into several offensive lapses that they could never recover from.

Road Trip Struggles and Key Takeaways

This 122-94 loss marks a disappointing start to Miamis road trip, especially coming just days after they lost to this same Timberwolves team at home. A key takeaway from this matchup is Miamis continued struggle against elite defensive teams with significant size. When the Heat cannot force turnovers and run in transition, their half court offense often stalls. Norman Powell, who is currently pushing for an All Star nod, led Miami with 21 points but found it difficult to generate clean looks as the game progressed. With a record of 20-17, the Heat must quickly find a way to balance their rotations and improve their three point efficiency if they hope to salvage the remainder of this road trip.