After igniting Anthony Edwards with trash talk, Heat reserve Myron Gardner advised by coach to 'be better'

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra loves Gardner’s ‘spirit,’ but would prefer it not be directed toward the opponent’s best player

Myron Gardner only played three minutes on Wednesday night in the Miami Heat's season opener, but he had a major impact on the result — just not in the way he hoped. Anthony Edwards credited Gardner's trash talk from the bench with inspiring his 45-point performance in the Minnesota Timberwolves' 131-106 win. "I think it kind of crunk me up," Edwards said after the game. "He was talking pretty crazy. When I start talking to him, he didn't really have too much more to say. I don't really like that. If you gonna talk shit, keep talking shit. Don't get quiet. I think that was pretty much the reason why I was super intense tonight." When asked if Gardner was the one doing the talking, Edwards wasn't sure.

The Heat declined to make Gardner available to the media on Thursday, but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra confirmed it was indeed Gardner who caught Edwards' attention and made it clear that he wants his second-year forward to use better judgment. "I love Myron's competitive spirit and he wants to infuse energy into the group. Also have to be smart about it," Spoelstra said. "I particularly don't want him talking trash to the other team's best scorers, especially when he's not out there. But he's got a good heart. He means the right