The Cavaliers get a tough early test Monday night at home, welcoming a Minnesota team that has looked unbeatable out of the gate. Cleveland is 1-1 after two games that showed both sides of the argument on this roster: the good enough to believe in, and the lapses that keep showing up when the game tightens.
That was on full display against Brooklyn. The Cavs built another strong first half, then let the fourth quarter drift away before surviving anyway in a 125-121 win, helped along by an inbounds violation by the Nets. It was a victory, but not the kind that lets Cleveland relax.
Minnesota arrives with a very different feel. The Timberwolves have opened 3-0 and have done it in emphatic fashion, beating Orlando, Miami and Toronto by an average margin of 23.3 points. They’ve looked like the league’s most complete team through the first week, and they’ll try to make it four straight statement wins against the Eastern Conference finalist Cavaliers.
The biggest reason for Minnesota’s start has been the fit of LaMelo Ball. The Timberwolves made a major summer move to bring him in from Charlotte as their point guard of the future, and the change has eased the load on Anthony Edwards. With Ball running the offense, Edwards has been getting cleaner looks than ever.
That’s showing up in the numbers. Edwards is averaging 28.7 points through three games and is shooting 43% from three on ten attempts a night.
Minnesota as a group has been just as sharp, hitting 42% from deep on 39 attempts and leading the league in three-point percentage. On top of that, the Wolves have been the best rebounding team in the league so far at 54 boards per game.
That rebounding edge matters against Cleveland, which has struggled on the defensive glass. The Timberwolves have also thinned out some of their frontcourt depth after dealing away Julius Randle to Brooklyn and Naz Reid to Charlotte, but they’ve made up for it with Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer at center, plus Jonathan Kuminga, Jaden McDaniels and Trey Lyles rotating at the four.
The starting lineups set up some interesting one-on-one battles. Donovan Mitchell is expected to see Jaden McDaniels, while Peyton Watson gets the assignment on Anthony Edwards.
That puts added weight on the point guard matchup, where LaMelo Ball and James Harden should have plenty of chances to create in isolation for themselves and for teammates. Harden is still searching for his first big game of the season.
Cleveland will also need another strong night from Evan Mobley, who followed up Saturday’s 20-point, 10-rebound outing against the Nets with a matchup that could ask even more of him inside.
There is one more wrinkle to watch: Edwards may sit due to right knee management. If he does, Minnesota still has a strong answer in Ayo Dosunmu, who has fit in well even when Edwards is off the floor.
Minnesota Timberwolves - LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert
Cleveland Cavaliers - James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
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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 🡒]
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Minnesota presents the next test, and the matchup will ask plenty of Cleveland on both ends. The Timberwolves have changed the feel of their offense with LaMelo Ball alongside Anthony Edwards, and the Cavaliers will need Peyton Watson to take on the challenge of slowing Edwards while Evan Mobley tries to keep his strong form going against Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. [Read more 🡒]