Donovan Mitchell took over when the Cavaliers needed it most, and Cleveland escaped with a 127-125 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It was the kind of game that never really loosened its grip. Minnesota came in 3-0 with a remodeled offense built around one of the league’s most explosive backcourts, and the Wolves showed that pop early. LaMelo Ball wasted no time making an impact, tossing an alley-oop from above the three-point line to a cutting Jonathan Kuminga.
The Cavs also got an immediate jolt from rookie Meleek Thomas, who made his NBA debut and picked up his first career points on a leak-out layup after a Minnesota basket. He kept building from there, knocking down a pair of catch-and-shoot threes and later forcing LaMelo Ball into an awkward travel with a strong defensive possession.
Thomas led Cleveland in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, with Mitchell close behind at 9. Even so, the Cavaliers went to halftime staring at a double-digit deficit, with Anthony Edwards pouring in 20 points to keep Minnesota in control.
Cleveland’s comeback started to breathe in the second half, and James Harden was a big reason why. After opening the game just 1-for-7 and struggling to find his rhythm, he turned it around after halftime and helped push the Cavaliers into the lead with extra work on the offensive glass.
Peyton Watson also settled in as the game wore on. Cleveland kept putting the ball in his hands as a creator, and he spent much of the second and third quarters bringing it up the floor as he worked through the early nerves and found a more comfortable groove.
The fourth quarter turned into a shot-for-shot duel. Edwards kept landing punches, especially in pin-down action, and the Cavs had a hard time slowing him down. Mitchell answered with scoring of his own, while Mobley knocked down multiple three-pointers in the second half to keep Cleveland within striking distance.
Then Harden delivered another massive moment, tying the game at 113 with a clutch floater. Watson followed with a block on Edwards, and that stop sent the contest to overtime.
Mobley opened the extra session with his third three-pointer of the night, and Jaden McDaniels fouled out while also handing the Cavs a technical free throw. Mitchell kept the pressure on from there, snaking through a pick-and-roll and finishing a crafty layup over Rudy Gobert to put Cleveland up three.
Edwards answered with a three-pointer to tie it again, but Mitchell had one more response waiting. He buried a jumper to put Cleveland back in front, and that was enough to seal the win.
It was a heavyweight scoring night all the way through. Edwards finished with 47 points, while Mitchell scored 12 of his 26 in the fourth quarter and overtime to carry the Cavaliers home.
In Other News...
Cavs Rookie Meleek Thomas Just Gave Cleveland A Real Bench Question
Meleek Thomas didnt need long to make his first regular-season impression. In his debut against the Timberwolves, the Cavaliers rookie guard stepped in and immediately showed the scoring pop that made him a second-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, giving Cleveland a spark off the bench while the team was sitting at 1-1.
Thomas got into the action right away and brought some real life to a unit that can use more reliable offense. His ability to stretch the floor was on display, and his quick burst gave the Cavs something to think about as they sort out who can provide steady minutes behind the main rotation. For a rookie trying to earn a spot in the conversation, that kind of start matters. [Read more 🡒]
Meleek Thomas Just Put Pressure On A Tough Cavs Decision
Meleek Thomas arrived with the kind of debut that tends to get a front office thinking. In Clevelands 129-127 overtime win over Minnesota, the Cavaliers 2026 second-round pick gave the bench a real jolt, scoring efficiently and bringing the kind of active, disruptive defense that can swing a tight game. For a team always trying to squeeze value out of the back end of the roster, it was the sort of first impression that can quickly change a players standing.
The bigger issue now is less about one good night than what it means for the group around him. Cleveland has been searching for dependable depth, and Thomas looked like someone who could make that conversation a little more complicated than expected. If his role keeps growing, the Cavs may have to weigh not just his development, but how much room there is for everyone else on a roster where the margins are already thin. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Catch Minnesota Short-Handed In Early Measuring-Stick Test
A potential early-season measuring stick just got a little more interesting for Cleveland. Minnesota has Anthony Edwards on its injury report with a right knee designation heading into the matchup, while the rest of the Timberwolves projected starters are expected to be available aside from Donte DiVincenzo, who is still working back from an Achilles injury. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are expected to be mostly healthy even if a few players remain sidelined.
Edwards may have picked up the issue in the previous game against Toronto, but he still logged 28 minutes and poured in 26 points before the designation surfaced. If hes limited or less than full strength, it would change the tone of a game that already carries some real barometer value for Cleveland, which is trying to see where it stands against one of the Wests more complete rosters. [Read more 🡒]