When the Warmth play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night time, a key for host Miami will probably be its defensive protection on Anthony Edwards.
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The 6-foot-4 Timberwolves star is averaging profession highs in factors , free-throw proportion and 3-point proportion .
Edwards, who completed second in 2021 within the voting for NBA Rookie of the Yr, averaged 19.3 factors that season. The three-time All-Star has elevated his scoring common in every following season.
He is additionally getting higher in calendar 12 months 2025.
Edwards is averaging 30.3 factors in three video games this month. If he retains up that tempo, it will be the third straight month that he has averaged greater than 30 factors per sport.
Nonetheless, Edwards additionally leads the NBA in technical fouls with 17. For perspective, no one on the Warmth has greater than 5 .
In 9 profession video games in opposition to Miami, Edwards is averaging 23.2 factors, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Miami beat host Minnesota 95-94 of their solely assembly up to now this season. In that Nov. 10 contest, Herro scored a game-high 26 factors. Edwards was held to 22 factors on 8-for-24 capturing.
Minnesota will enter Miami coming off a 125-110 win over the host Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Jaden McDaniels and Edwards every scored 29 factors for the Timberwolves.
Level guard Mike Conley and middle Rudy Gobert missed the Hornets sport. It seems seemingly Conley will return to play the Warmth.
Ahead Julius Randle is Minnesota’s second-leading scorer behind Edwards.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch mentioned Randle and Donte DiVincenzo offseason acquisitions from New York within the commerce that despatched Karl-Anthony Cities to the Knicks are enjoying effectively.
Finch mentioned of DiVincenzo: “He makes back-breaking 3-pointers for us. I like how he’s playing an all-around game: rebounding, playmaking and always ready to shoot.”
DiVincenzo is averaging 11.4 factors, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 26.4 minutes in 45 video games. He is making 39.4 % of his 3-point makes an attempt and 40.8 % from the sector.
Herro leads Miami in scoring and assists .
Nonetheless, Herro didn’t play in Miami’s 112-107 loss on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday on account of sickness.
Herro was considered one of six Warmth gamers who missed the Cavaliers sport, together with fellow starters Nikola Jovic ; Andrew Wiggins ; and Kel’el Ware .
As well as, Dru Smith is out for the 12 months, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. has a sprained ankle.
But, even with all these points, the Warmth was main Cleveland which has the most effective report within the NBA with lower than three minutes remaining. An obvious game-tying 3-pointer by Miami’s Duncan Robinson with 17 seconds left was waved off as a result of he stepped out of bounds.
One factor Miami has been in a position to depend on is Bam Adebayo, who scored a season-high 34 factors in opposition to Cleveland. The three-time All-Star middle is averaging 17.5 factors, a team-high 10.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Level guard Davion Mitchell acquired from Toronto within the five-team commerce that despatched Miami’s Jimmy Butler to Golden State has given the Warmth a lift. Moreover enjoying powerful protection, he’s making 48.5 % on 3-pointers in his 10 video games with Miami.
Position gamers Alec Burks and defensive stalwart Haywood Highsmith have additionally helped Miami.
“We’ve got a lot of guys making plays,” Adebayo mentioned. “We’ve got nine or 10 guys, but we still have to find ways to win.”
Miami is 15-12 at dwelling. Minnesota is 18-15 on the highway. Each groups entered Thursday in seventh place of their respective convention, placing them in play-in territory.
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