The start of the 2026-27 NBA season is finally here, and the Miami Heat get a great test in Game 1 with the upgraded Minnesota Timberwolves roster, which features one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league. While there’s plenty to worry about in Minnesota, the key to winning this game will be stopping the star-studded backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.
So how can they do it? In what will be a pretty great defensive test for the Heat right out of the gate, we highlight three keys to limiting Ball and Edwards.
1. Force LaMelo Ball into bad shots
While Ball has been one of the NBA’s most creative playmakers, his biggest concern has always been his questionable shot selection. It's part of the reason why the Charlotte Hornets decided to trade him this past offseason. Ball is a career 41.8 percent shooter, despite hitting on the three-ball at a near 37 percent clip (on nine attempts per game).
Two things: Ball is not the best finisher in the league, and many of his inefficiencies also come from taking some bad (or low-percentage) shots.
If the Heat can keep Edwards under wraps (to a certain extent), the Timberwolves will have to depend on Ball's streaky shooting. While he’s fully capable of taking over a game, the Heat would much rather have him take more shots than Edwards. And if it does come to that, the Heat would much rather live with Ball beating them than Edwards.
2. Embrace switching on defense. A lot.
The Heat have loved switching a lot in defensive coverage, and this year should be no different with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the fold. Edwards should have to see at least three different bodies each possession.
Having to go through a gauntlet of Giannis, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell (or any combination of three Heat starters) should break many stars this season. Granted, Edwards is the best at his position, so he will probably rack up points regardless. At the very least, he needs to work for those points.
The Heat needs to be ready to throw as many different defenders as needed in Edwards' direction.
3. The help defense, when it comes, has to be perfect
One thing that Ball does better than almost any player in the NBA is getting easy shots for other players. The Heat knows this pretty well, considering how much they've seen Ball over the years during their battles with Charlotte.
It’s part of why Edwards could enx up averaging 31-plus points per game this year and quite easily.
The Timberwolves have two legitimate lob threats in Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga, and a center willing to catch lobs in Rudy Gobert. Ensuring the Heat don’t lose these players on a backdoor cut or a fast break will not only serve as a momentum killer, but could ultimately be the best way to stop the Timberwolves backcourt from impacting the game in other ways outside of scoring.
If the Heat is going to get off on the right foot this season, it has to start with a big win at home in their season opener. In order to achieve that, it all starts with stopping Edwards and Ball. A task that will easily serve as a great first test for this defensive unit.
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