MINNEAPOLIS – In a thrilling matchup, Donovan Mitchell dropped 36 points and Darius Garland contributed 29, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 124-117 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The win cements the Cavaliers’ position at the top of the NBA standings.
After a tightly contested first half that left both teams tied, Cleveland (35-6) emerged stronger in the second half. They outperformed Minnesota by 10 points in the third quarter and initiated the fourth with a decisive 10-0 scoring run that ultimately allowed them to take control of the game.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards led the charge with 28 points, while Julius Randle put up 20 points along with 14 rebounds and nine assists. However, Minnesota faced challenges, missing Donte DiVincenzo, who sat out for the second consecutive game due to a sprained left toe.
Cleveland also dealt with player absences; forward Evan Mobley was unavailable due to right calf soreness, and Isaac Okoro was sidelined with a sprained right AC joint. Both had played in the previous game against Oklahoma City, which resulted in a disappointing 20-point loss.
In an impressive individual achievement, Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 8,000 career points, following legends LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who both achieved the milestone at a younger age.
Key takeaways from the game highlight Cleveland’s resilience in bouncing back from their prior loss to the Thunder, preventing what would have been only their second two-game losing streak this season. For Minnesota, fatigue appeared to set in following their Friday victory over the Knicks, as they showed a 2-4 record in second games of back-to-back matchups this season.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Ty Jerome scored six consecutive points to close out the third quarter, including a crucial three-point play that extended the Cavaliers’ lead to 10 points with just 4.1 seconds to go in the quarter. This shift in momentum was too much to overcome for Minnesota.
Statistically, Cleveland’s success was buoyed by 15 points each from bench players Ty Jerome and Georges Niang, demonstrating depth in their roster.
Looking ahead, both teams have games scheduled for Monday. The Cavaliers will host the Phoenix Suns, while the Timberwolves will travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies.
