Anthony Edwards Calls Out Heat Player Over Their Costly Trash-Talk Mistake

Anthony Edwards turned a heated exchange with a Miami Heat bench player into extra motivation.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star then delivered a huge performance, leading his team to a convincing season-opening win in Miami.

Edwards scored 45 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Minnesota defeated the Heat 131-106. The performance spoiled Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami debut and gave the Timberwolves an emphatic start to the season.

After the game, Edwards explained how the exchange fueled his intensity.

He said the Heat player had been talking aggressively from the bench but went quiet when Edwards responded.

“I think it kinda crunk me up. He was talking pretty crazy. When I started talking to him he didn’t have to much more to say. I don’t really like that. If you’re gonna talk [expletive], keep talking [expletive]. Don’t get quiet. I think that was the reason I was super intense tonight.”

The player was believed to be Miami's Myron Gardner, although Edwards did not publicly revealed him in the quoted comments.

Edwards certainly backed up his words on the court. He shot 16-of-29 from the field and made nine three-pointers. His 45 points set a Timberwolves franchise record for a season opener.

Minnesota took control after halftime and pulled away from Miami. The Timberwolves scored 30 points in the third quarter and added 32 in the fourth.

Their three-point shooting set the tone for the game, as they made 21 shots from beyond the arc compared with Miami's eight.

Antetokounmpo led Miami with 35 points in his first game for the franchise, but his effort was not enough to keep the contest close. The Heat struggled to contain Edwards as the game progressed.