The Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat meet Wednesday to open their 2026-27 seasons. Tip-off from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze NBA odds around the Timberwolves vs. Heat odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2025-26 season series: Timberwolves won 2-0
Minnesota took things in a completely different direction after finishing with the sixth-best regular season record (49-33) out West for the second consecutive year. The Timberwolves are still led by G Anthony Edwards, who averaged 28.8 points per game (PPG), but his supporting cast got a complete overhaul. The Wolves traded away F Julius Randle in a 3-team deal before then dealing F Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets
for PG LaMelo Ball (20.1 PPG, 7.1 assists per game). The Wolves' final move was signing F Jonathan Kuminga to a 2-year deal to be the new starting small forward, adding length and hopefully defense alongside this star-studded guard duo.
Miami, which went 43-39 to finish as the 10th seed last season, made one of the biggest offseason moves when they sent G Tyler Herro, C Kel'el Ware, F Jaime Jaquez Jr. and G Kasparas Jakucionis to Milwaukee for F Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 2-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year joins a Heat team led by C Bam Adebayo (20.1 PPG, 10 RPG in 2026). Antetokounmpo played in just 36 games for Milwaukee last year due to injury, but he averaged 27.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in those 36 games. The Heat also added veteran shooters in G Klay Thompson and F Tim Hardaway Jr. to bring in some desperately needed spacing.
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Timberwolves at Heat odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 10:34 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Timberwolves $100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Heat -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Timberwolves +1.5 (-110) | Heat -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 243.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Timberwolves at Heat key injuries
Timberwolves
- G Donte DiVincenzo (achilles) out
Heat
- F Myron Gardner (ankle) available
- C Vladislav Goldin (ankle) questionable
- G Dru Smith (calf) available
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Timberwolves at Heat picks and predictions
Prediction
Timberwolves 113, Heat 106
Moneyline
BET TIMBERWOLVES (+100).
Both teams will be incorporating brand new pieces, but it should be much easier for the Wolves to get things rolling with a pass-first, offensively minded guard in LaMelo than it will be for Miami, which is incorporating a paint-dominant player into an offense that was already desperate for shooting. The Heat also don't have any real perimeter threats when it comes to shooting or ball-handling, so look for Minnesota to crowd the paint in an attempt to prevent Antetokounmpo from getting going, while also forcing a lot of turnovers off double teams.
Against the spread
PASS.
The Wolves will cover here as +1.5 (-110) underdogs, but it isn't worth taking the extra juice ATS when I have them winning outright. Pass and bet on the moneyline and/or total instead.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 243.5 (-115).
Scoring, especially on the perimeter, will be hard to come by for Miami, and it doesn't help that they're going against a Timberwolves team that finished with the eighth-best defensive rating last season. I also question where Miami's bench scoring will come from, as the Heat don't have a proven offensive creator or ball-handler in their second unit.
On the other side, the Heat will likely make paint scoring nearly impossible, so expect that both teams will deal with some scoring droughts in this matchup.
Best prop bet
Heat C BAM ADEBAYO OVER 3.5 ASSISTS (+142 FanDuel Sportsbook).
Miami doesn't trust its guards, and because of that, you will see Giannis and Bam acting as offensive initiators for a large chunk of this game, which will lead to plenty of opportunities for Bam to rack up assists. Also look for Bam to get at least an assist or 2 in transition simply by grabbing a rebound and launching the ball ahead to Giannis.
Bam had 28 games in which he recorded 4 or more assists in 2025-26, including in his lone home battle against Minnesota, and Miami's guard depth is weaker now than it was last season.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Minnesota Timberwolves at Miami Heat odds, picks and predictions
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