How To Watch Miami Heat Vs Minnesota Timberwolves; Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Lines

Game time: Wed. October 21; 7:30 p.m., Kaseya Center, Miami

TV: ESPN

Betting line: Heat -1.5

VITALS

The Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves meet for the first of two regular season matchups, with their next bout scheduled in Minnesota on February 6.

Miami had a big offseason, acquiring both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis in a blockbuster deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Other veterans added include Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nick Richards. With these moves, the Heat are projected to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and are expected to improve upon their 43-39 record last season after getting bounced in the Play-In Tourmament. A returning player is Andrew Wiggins, who opted into the final year of his contract and signed a two-year, $34 million extension with the Heat, essentially making it a three-year, $64 million contract. Davion Mitchell enters the season as the team's projected starting point guard on an expiring contract. Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic round out the rest of the rotation with the former signing a four-year, $60 million rookie contract extension in September and Jovic entering a make-or-break season after signing his extension prior to last season.

The Timberwolves are in a different situation, coming off a 49-33 campaign with an exit in the Western Conference Semifinals to the San Antonio Spurs. They traded center Naz Reid and forward Julius Randle, two high-scorers, early this offseason while also acquiring Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball to team up with Anthony Edwards as well to form one of the more dangerous backcourts in the West. Jonathan Kuminga, Cody Williams and Trey Lyles are other notable additions to their roster. Other returning players for the Timberwolves include Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, with the latter recently signing a one-year, $40 million extension, tying him to the franchise through 2030.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Miami Heat:

G Davion Mitchell

G Klay Thompson

F Andrew Wiggins

F Giannis Antetokounmpo

C Bam Adebayo

Minnesota Timberwolves:

G LaMelo Ball

G Anthony Edwards

F Jonathan Kuminga

F Jaden McDaniels

C Rudy Gobert

INJURY REPORT

Miami Heat:

G Pelle Larsson (illness) - Probable; participated in Monday's practice

C Bam Adebayo (groin) - Probable; participated in Monday's practice

G Dru Smith (calf) - Probable; participated in Monday's practice

C Vladislav Goldin (ankle) - Game-Time Decision; did not participate in Tuesday's practice

Minnesota Timberwolves:

G Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) - OUT

C Rocco Zikarsky (undisclosed) - Game-Time Decision; missed Friday's preseason game

QUOTABLE

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Klay Thompson getting acclimated: "Yeah, I feel really good about what he's providing for us. First, that gravity that I've talked about that is well-earned over the course of his entire career. They're going to defend him a certain way... and then the last couple games, I thought we've gotten him some really good looks and shooters will all go through that. He's still getting his legs under him. He'll be just fine. I actually really am encouraged by all the other things he's doing for us outside of the three-point shooting."