Heat at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves won their first two games of the season on the road for the second time in franchise history and look to build off that in their home opener against the unbeaten Miami Heat on Sunday night. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 36.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists as the Timberwolves edged Brooklyn in overtime before rolling to a 121-99 victory at Charlotte on Friday.
Towns has shot 60 percent from the field and made 11-of-18 from 3-point range while becoming the first Minnesota player to start the season with back-to-back games of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds since Kevin Garnett in 1999. “This was a regular night for (Towns),” Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie told reporters after Friday’s win when Towns scored 37 and dished out eight assists. “I definitely know that he can definitely do more, so I’m definitely excited to see what he can do this season.” Miami rallied from 21 points behind, shook off a tying basket at the regulation buzzer and recorded a 131-126 overtime victory at Milwaukee on Saturday as veteran guard Goran Dragic scored six of his team-high 25 points in the extra session. The Heat have won the first two games without All-Star guard Jimmy Butler, who has been away from the team for the birth of his child and is not expected to make his Miami debut Sunday, while reserve forward Derrick Jones Jr. left Saturday’s game with a left leg injury.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE HEAT (2-0): Dragic is warming to his new role off the bench, averaging 22 points, 5.5 assists and 30 minutes in the first two games while connecting on 11-of-25 from the field and draining four 3-pointers. Rookie guard Kendrick Nunn has picked up right where he left off in the preseason by averaging 21 points in a pair of wins and backcourt mate Tyler Herro from Kentucky scored 14 in each of his first two NBA contests. Center Bam Adebayo - another former Kentucky player - appears ready to have a breakout season after registering double-doubles in back-to-back games, including 19 points along with 13 rebounds and eight assists Saturday.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (2-0): Okogie has done a little bit of everything in the first two games, recording 25 points in 40 minutes on 7-of-11 from the field with seven rebounds and six assists combined. “He’s done it in ways where he’s got energy and he’s been all over the place,” coach Ryan Saunders told reporters. “But you’re not feeling like he’s always on the floor. You’re not feeling like he’s getting himself out of position. I see tremendous growth.” Andrew Wiggins is second on the team in scoring through two games, averaging 18.5 points on 40 percent shooting, and has pulled down a total of 12 rebounds.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Miami F Justise Winslow struggled shooting Saturday (4-of-16), but finished with 10 points, 13 boards and seven assists.
2. Minnesota G Treveon Graham is averaging 10.5 points with four assists and one turnovers in his first two games with the club.
3. The Timberwolves won both matchups last season, including 111-109 at home, as Towns averaged 23.5 points.