Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball helped lead the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Miami Heat in both team's season openers on Wednesday night, as the backcourt combined for 66 points in a 131-106 victory. Ball finished with a team-high six assists in his Timberwolves debut as well but made unwanted headlines in the second quarter when he buried a step-back three-pointer following a blatant travel that wasn't called by the officials. The 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year's older brother -- fellow guard Lonzo Ball -- called out LaMelo on social media following the no-call and LaMelo discussed the play postgame, claiming that he didn't travel.
The official account of the NBA Referees Union responded to the viral missed call on Thursday and said the travel was obvious. The 2022 All-Star spent the first six seasons of his career with the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to Minnesota in July as part of a blockbuster four-team deal that also included former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. Ball scored 21 points in his first game with the Timberwolves on 7-for-17 shooting, including 5-for-13 on three-pointers.
If the officials had done their job properly on Wednesday night, the 25-year-old would've finished with 18 points.
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