The NBA’s most intriguing new backcourt lived up to the hype Wednesday night.

In their first game as teammates, the Timberwolves’ 131–106 rout of the Heat at Kaseya Center , Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball were unconscious from the field. Edwards, typically the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 priority on opponents’ scouting reports, found himself with more space than usual when Ball was on the floor and took advantage. He finished the night with 45 points on 16-of-29 shooting, becoming just the third player in NBA history to notch multiple games of 40+ points in a season opener.

“At this point, me and him are going to be best friends,” Edwards said of Ball after the game.

Heading into the season, Wolves coach Chris Finch insisted he didn’t plan on staggering the two stars’ minutes. Stagger he did, however. Edwards and Ball played all of nine minutes together in the first half, and about eight minutes together in the second half.

Those minutes, though, went well.…