CLEVELAND — In an impressive display on Monday evening, the Cleveland Cavaliers triumphed over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a decisive score of 128-107. This victory marked another step forward for the Cavaliers, who currently lead the Eastern Conference standings. Evan Mobley led the charge for Cleveland with an outstanding 28 points, while All-Star teammate Donovan Mitchell contributed 23 points, helping the team establish a commanding early lead.
The Cavaliers came out strong, scoring the first 16 points of the game and quickly gaining momentum. Recently acquired De’Andre Hunter made his debut for the team after being traded from Atlanta, starting in place of the injured Max Strus. Hunter played 23 minutes and made a steady impression, finishing with 12 points. His versatility is expected to bolster Cleveland’s playoff defense.
On the flip side, the Timberwolves struggled early on, failing to find their rhythm as they missed their first 16 shot attempts and only managed to land 12 points in the opening quarter. Despite a stellar performance by Anthony Edwards, who netted 44 points, Minnesota couldn’t recover from their dismal start. Hunter’s first basket as a Cavalier, a 3-pointer, pushed the score to 40-16 during the second quarter, cementing Cleveland’s lead.
The Timberwolves never came within 15 points of Cleveland after that, highlighting their challenges on both ends of the court. Meanwhile, Mitchell showcased his offensive efficiency, hitting 10 out of 14 shots from the field while also dishing out eight assists. Additionally, Jarrett Allen contributed significantly with 14 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Cavaliers control the game throughout.
Prior to the game, a notable development occurred off the court as an arbitration panel ruled that Glen Taylor, the controlling owner of the Timberwolves, must transfer ownership to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. The duo had previously agreed to purchase the team for a staggering $1.5 billion three years ago.
Key observations from the game include the Timberwolves’ disastrous shooting start, with their initial five points solely coming from free throws before Edwards managed a 3-pointer late in the first quarter. For the Cavaliers, Coach Kenny Atkinson expressed excitement about the dynamic possibilities that Hunter brings, whether he starts or plays as a substitute.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred in the final seconds of the third quarter when the Cavaliers extended their lead to 26 points, thanks to 3-pointers from rookie Jaylon Tyson and Ty Jerome following a steal from an inbounds pass. An interesting statistic to note is that Cleveland has an impressive record of 21-3 when Mobley scores at least 20 points.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, while the Cavaliers prepare to face off against the Toronto Raptors in their final game before the All-Star break.
