The Cavaliers get another tough test tonight, and this one comes with a different kind of pressure. After nearly wasting a 16-point cushion against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, Cleveland barely escaped with a win after some shaky communication and mistakes in the closing seconds. That kind of finish left room for concern, even if the lead held.
Now the challenge changes shape. Minnesota arrives with what the source describes as maybe the most electric offense in the NBA right now, and the matchup asks Cleveland to be sharp from the opening tip to the final possession.
A big part of that Minnesota surge comes from the offseason move that brought LaMelo Ball in to help Anthony Edwards. The idea was simple: ease Edwards off the burden of being the primary ball handler and let him work more off the ball.
So far, it has paid off. Edwards is averaging 28.7 points per game and shooting 45% from three on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
That puts a lot on Cleveland’s defense, especially since the best Minnesota players are guards. The source notes that this is an even tougher defensive ask for Cleveland than the 76ers game, and that James Harden and Donovan Mitchell remain the weakest parts of the Cavs’ starters defensively.
The Edwards assignment is expected to land on Peyton Watson, who bounced back after a rough debut against Philly. The reality with Edwards is that nobody is really shutting him down; the goal is to make his night harder and force the game into a more manageable rhythm for Cleveland.
There is at least one wrinkle in Minnesota’s favor that could matter less than usual. Edwards may be dealing with an injury, and the source says he has been favoring his knee a lot this season, even while pouring in points.
Cleveland, meanwhile, is somehow listed as the favorite in a 122, 114 projection for the matchup. That may reflect the fact that Minnesota has blown out every team it has played this season, winning all three of its games by more than 20 points. But if the Cavaliers can build a lead, the source suggests the Timberwolves have not yet been in a game where they were forced to dig out of a hole and manufacture more offense.
Evan Mobley enters the game off a 20-point, 10-rebound performance, and his recent play suggests more confidence in his shot. He looked efficient in the win over the Nets, and tonight he’ll have a stern test from Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
In Other News...
Cavs May Catch Minnesota Short-Handed In Early Measuring-Stick Test
A promising early-season measuring stick could get a little more complicated for Minnesota, which has placed Anthony Edwards on its injury report with a right knee designation ahead of the matchup with the Cavaliers. Edwards appeared to come out of the previous game against Toronto with something to monitor, though he still played 28 minutes and poured in 26 points, and the rest of the Timberwolves expected starters are projected to be available.
For Cleveland, the timing adds another wrinkle to a game that already carries a bit more weight than your typical November matchup. The Cavaliers are coming in mostly healthy, even with a few players still sidelined, and now they may be facing a Minnesota group that is not quite at full strength, with Donte DiVincenzo still working back from his Achilles injury. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Suddenly Have A New Wrinkle As A Bigger Problem Looms
Jarrett Allen gave the Cavaliers an unexpected little jolt against the Nets, knocking down a three-pointer in Clevelands 125-121 win and finishing with 21 points and eight rebounds. It was the latest sign that Allens game keeps stretching beyond the paint, and Evan Mobley was among those noting how much his shooting has developed as the season has gone on.
There is still a bigger concern hanging over the group, though, and it has less to do with one made jumper than with how the Cavs are getting through games. Cleveland has had trouble closing lately, and with Minnesota next on the schedule, Kenny Atkinsons team will need to show it can keep its legs under it when the possessions get tighter and the fourth quarter gets demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Late-Game Problem Could Get Exposed Fast In Minnesota
The Cavaliers have spent the early part of the season learning how quickly a comfortable lead can turn uneasy in the fourth quarter. Cleveland has already had one night against Philadelphia slip badly after building a huge cushion, and it came close to letting another one get away against Brooklyn, which is not the kind of habit a contender wants this early in the schedule. As the team settles into the year, those late-game stretches are becoming just as important as the opening burst that often puts them in position to win in the first place.
Minnesota is a difficult next test because it has looked sharp from the opening tip and has yet to show much vulnerability. For a Cleveland team trying to clean up its closing minutes, the matchup offers an immediate stress test against a club that has been dominant from the start and has not needed much drama to finish games. If the Cavaliers are going to turn those shaky endings into something more stable, this is the sort of opponent that can reveal how far they still have to go. [Read more 🡒]