Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points in his Heat debut. Afterward, he was more interested in discussing what he hadn’t done well enough.
Miami lost 131-106 to the Timberwolves on Wednesday, an opening-night disappointment that prompted Antetokounmpo to question his new team’s effort and response to adversity.
“We got to trust each other. When things don’t go our way, we got to dig in. We didn’t do that tonight,” he said, via Erich Richter of the New York Post. “Our effort has to be better. It starts with me. My effort has to be better. I set the tone.”
Minnesota gave the Heat plenty to chase. Anthony Edwards scored 45 points and made nine of his 17 three-point attempts. LaMelo Ball added 21 points as the Wolves hit 21 threes on 50 attempts.
Antetokounmpo’s concern was how Miami reacted when those shots kept falling.
“They have two players that can make shots that make your spirit get defeated. You got to keep playing through that,” he said. “When [Edwards] made shots, we got discouraged, and the game got easier for them. When guys get going, we have to be more physical with them.”
The loss also brought immediate outside criticism of Miami’s supporting cast following the offseason trade that sent Tyler Herro and other pieces to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo.
“You take away Giannis, Bam [Adebayo], Klay [Thompson], and [Andrew] Wiggins, name me three Heat players,” Charles Barkley asked during the studio coverage.
Former NBA guard Jeff Teague went further, criticizing the offense’s resemblance to Antetokounmpo’s former team.
“I didn’t know they were gonna be playing Milwaukee basketball still,” Teague said. “I didn’t know they’d take the Milwaukee Bucks and put them in Miami.”
One game is a quick basis for a verdict on a rebuilt roster. Antetokounmpo’s assessment was more immediate: Whatever Miami’s offense becomes, its effort can’t depend on whether the opponent is missing shots.
The Heat get another opportunity Friday against the Pistons.
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