Wednesday night saw a clash between two completely revamped teams in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat, but it was Minnesota that came out the victor.

The Timberwolves' first-game of the 2026-27 season saw the first true test of the guard connection between Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball after Ball was added in the offseason and it's safe to say that the connection didn't disappoint.

Adding Ball in the offseason via a trade with the Charlotte Hornets was the biggest addition that the Timberwolves have made in some time and the benefit that Ball brings is most seen in his playmaking, adding a connective focal point for a Minnesota offense that was already one of the most electric and effective in the league.

Ball played his role perfectly, scoring 21 points in his own right while adding six assists of his own and Edwards thrived alongside his new backcourt partner, scoring a game-leading 45 points to topple the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Heat. 

But Ball's connection doesn't just stop at the way that he's able to help Edwards. His playmaking gives a boost to everyone on the roster, letting Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga and Ayo Dosunmu all play sharper as well. 

Adding Ball to the team has come with a lot of anticipation for what he'll be able to do to help level up the Timberwolves offense and head coach Chris Finch is encouraged by what he's seen already just one game in, especially with how he can help Edwards.

"He [Edwards] had enough good, clean looks to get himself into a rhythm," Finch sad (via Timberwolves). "It wasn't just Ant that LaMelo was creating great energy for, but it was everybody that was benefiting from it."

It may be a small sample size, but Ball's impact on the Timberwolves is already undeniable. He brings a new level of energy to an already energetic team and having someone who is both so capable as a playmaker and able to be a legitimate scoring threat in their own right is the kind of impact that Minnesota has been missing for years now.

His impact shows up in the final score. Miami is by no means a slouch on the defensive end, especially after adding Antetokounmpo in the offseason, but the Timberwolves were still able to rout them 131-106.

The kind of firepower they have at their disposal paired with someone like ball to direct all of that offense into an even more productive direction is huge and could be the final piece that the team needs to get over the hump and be a true contender in the Western Conference.

It may be just one game, but Minnesota has gotten off to as strong of a start as possible.