Ball Sparks Wolves Debut Win as Finch Hails Sky-High Ceiling for Edwards Pairing

LaMelo Ball's first night in a Minnesota Timberwolves uniform went about as well as anyone could have hoped. The offseason acquisition started alongside Anthony Edwards in Monday's preseason opener against the Milwaukee Bucks and wasted no time fitting in, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in just 17 first-half minutes as the Wolves cruised to a 116-97 victory. Ball's playmaking was on display from the opening possession, when he found Jonathan Kuminga off a pick-and-roll for a layup, and he connected twice with Edwards in the game's early stages — once on a kick-out three and again on a second-quarter pick-and-roll that ended in a fadeaway jumper. Finch rested both stars for the entire second half after they combined for 25 points through the first two quarters. What impressed Edwards most was not the box score but Ball's voice. The Timberwolves guard said he was surprised by how much Ball communicated on the floor, calling his motor relentless and praising the way he keeps everyone involved. Finch echoed the excitement after the game, telling Yahoo Sports' Kelly Iko that the Ball-Edwards combination has the potential to be dynamic and explosive, while cautioning there will be growing pains as the pairing solidifies. Minnesota brought Ball in this summer to run the offense full-time and ease the decision-making burden on Edwards, and the early returns suggest the plan is taking shape. Edwards added 14 points of his own before taking a seat for the night. Minnesota next faces the Indiana Pacers before opening the regular season on the road against the Miami Heat on October 21.