Cavaliers comeback and stun Timberwolves in OT 127-125
BY TIM SHIRER
CAVS BEAT WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - Monday night the Cleveland Cavaliers (1-1) welcomed the Minnesota Timberwolves to Rocket Arena.
The Cavaliers won their anything but impressive first game of the season on Saturday night against the Brooklyn Nets 125-121. They nearly blew a 22-point lead.
On Monday night, they did not look good early, but in the end, the overtime Cavs came out on top 127-125.
After the Cavs took a 7-3 lead the T-Wolves went a on a 9-0 run to take a 12-7 lead with 7:37 left on the clock by Jaden McDaniels after a James Harden turnover, which was his second and the Cavs fifth in the first 4:23 of the game. Things got worse, with 5:05 left the Timberwolves lead grew to 20-9. The Cavs were having a three teared problem, couldn’t score, turning the ball over and couldn’t stop Minnesota. With 3:41 left on the first quarter clock Meleek Thomas scored his first NBA points, pulling the Cavs to within 10 points at 23-13. As the first quarter ended the Cavs cut a 13-point lead to 31-24 when Thomas drained a three with :13.7 left on the clock. Anthony Edwarsds led all scorers with 11 first quarter points, Thomas led the Cavs with eight. The Timberwolves shot 58% (14 of 24) from the field while the Cavs shot 40% (10 of 25). Minnesota outrebounded Cleveland 13-11 in the first 12 minutes.
The Cavs pulled to within five points at 35-30 with 10:09 left in the second quarter when Donovan Mitchell drained a three from near the top of the arc. But, with 8:05 left the Minnesota lead was back up to 11 at 45-34 as McDaniels scored in the paint on a pass from Edwards. With 5:01 left in the first half the Minnesota lead had grown to 15 points and things were not looking good. With 1:39 left in the half Jaylon Tyson drove the lane and scored cutting the T-Wolves lead to 56-46. With :54.3 left Sam Merrill drained a three on a pass from James Harden and the Minnesota lead was just nine points. At the half, the T-Wolves led 60-50. Ant led all scorers with 20 first half points. Thomas paced the Cavs with 10 points. The Cavs as a team shot 43% (20 of 47) from the field. Meanwhile the T-Wolves shot 52% (25 of 48). Neither team was dynamic from three-point range as the Cavs shot 35% (6 of 17) and Minnesota was 20% (3 of 15). The Cavs turned the ball over seven times resulting in eight Wolves points. Minnesota turned it over eight times resulting in 10 Cavs points. The T-Wolves outrebounded the Cavs 24-21 in the opening 24 minutes.
The Cavs came out to start the third quarter with the most energy they’ve had in the three games starting a second half. With 7:49 left in the quarter the Cavs cut the Minnesota lead to nine when Jarrett Allen hit two free throws. With 5:31 left in the third James Harden hit second consecutive three to pull the Cavs to within three points at 69-66. Minnesota then turned the ball over, and the Cavs took advantage when Merrill was fouled. He hit both free throws, and the T-Wolves lead was one point. Once again, on the next possession Minnesota threw it away and the Cavs led 70-69 when Harden scored in the paint. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch called an immediate timeout. The last 4:29 of the quarter the game went back and forth with the lead continuing to change hands. When the finals buzzer sounded and 36 minutes were gone the score was tied 86-86. The Cavs outscored the T-Wolves 36-26 in the quarter, out shooting them 52% (11 of 21) to 42% (9 of 21) from the field. The Cavs also drained six three-point baskets in the quarter while Minnesota managed just three. Edwards was still leading all scorers with 25 points, while Thomas was pacing the Cavs with 16.
The Cavs quickly took the lead 89-88 with 11:15 remaining when Mitchell hit a three from in front of the Cavs bench. With 9:22 remaining the Cavs took a 94-90 lead when Evan Mobley drained a three from the top of the arc on a nice pass from Mitchell. Minnesota scored the next six points regaining the lead 96-94 with 8:23 left in the contest. After Minnesota scored the next 11 points to take a 101-94 lead the Cavs scored the next five to cut the T-Wolve lead to two points. Then Ant came along and hit a three to give Minnesota five-point lead with 5:39 left on the clock. With 4:19 left Harden tied the game 104-104. The next possession, the T-Wolves, quickly turned it over, but the Cavs could not take advantage when Harden was charged with an offensive foul. With 3:28 left Ant fouled Jarden and of course complained about it. With 2:15 left after more than a two-minute scoring drought by both teams Edwards hit a fallback jumper to give the T-Wolves a 106-104 lead. After Edwards hit another jumper to extend the Minnesota lead to four Mobley drained a three and the Cavs closed the gap to one point. With :38.7 left on the clock LaMelo Ball scored on a layup and gave Minnesota 112-109 lead. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson called a timeout to plot some strategy. Mitchell cut it to 112-111 with a layup and Finch countered with a timeout. At that point it was a game of strategy and who could execute better. With :25.8 left, Minnesota had possession and Mitchell fouled Jonathan Kuminga. The foul was reviewed if it was flagrant, it was not. Kuminga converted one of two free throws and led 113-111. After a three-point miss by Mitchell, Harden dropped it in in the paint and the game was tied 113-113 with :10.4 remaining in regulation. The inbound went to Edwards of course and he drove near the lane, and his shot was forcefully blocked by Peyton Watson and Merrill pulled down the rebound and called a timeout with :04.2 left on the clock.
The Cavs failed to score, and the game was headed for extra time.
The five-minute overtime started with Mobley draining a three and the Cavs had a 116-113 lead. Both teams tightened their defense. With Cavs up 117-113 Edwards took over and scored the next five points to give the 118-117 lead. With 2:01 left Mobley scored and the Cavs once again led 119-118. Mobley then blocked Rody Goebert at the other end. The Cavs. With 1:12 left in extra time Mitchell scored inside, and the Cavs led 121-118 and Finch took a timeout. Then with 1:02 remaining who else but Ant hit a three from in front of the T-Wolves bench to tie the game. Mitchell scored again inside with :47,8 left giving the Cavs a 123-121 lead. With :34.1 left Harden picked up his fifth foul. Kuminga hit the first free throw and missed the second. The Timberwolves came away with the rebound and called a timeout. After a missed shot the Cavs got the board and Mitchell was fouled by Ball with :14.3. The Cavs took a timeout and then could not get the ball in bounds and were forced to use their final timeout still leading 123-122. After getting the ball inbounds to Harden, he was fouled in the back by Kuminga and went to the line. He hit both and gave the Cavs 125-122 with :13.0 remaining. With :09.2 left purposely fouled Ball. He hit one of two and the Cavs lead was 125-123. Ball purposely missed the second free throw, the T-Wolves got the rebound passed it out to Edwards at the top of the Arc and he shot the three and missed Watson secured the board and was fouled. He made both free throws with :03.1 left securing the Cavs win 127-125.
Mitchell led the Cavs in scoring with 26 points and Harden 22 and 9 assists. Mitchell mentioned after the game the 16-point effort by Thomas in his first NBA action. Edwards had a game high 47 for Minnesota in a loss. But he does not go home empty-handed as he has won tonight’s Danny Ainge Crybaby Award.
The T-Wolves out shot the Cavs from the field 50% (49 of 99) to 45% (46 of 102). The Cavs however were better from three-point range shooting 40% (18 of 45) while Minnesota shot 33% (13 of 39).
The Cavs cut the turnovers way down from Saturday night, turning it over just 10 times resulting in eight Timberwolves points. Meanwhile Minnesota turned it over 19 times resulting in 21 Cavs points. That was the difference in the game as it is many nights in the NBA.
Minnesota did outrebound the Cavs 52-47 in the loss.
The Cavs will continue their homestand on Wednesday night as they welcome the Washington Wizards to town at 7 pm.
POSTED 10/26/2026 22:29
Lake County Sentinel
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Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Meleek Thomas shoots and scores 16 points in his NBA debut. As the Cavaliers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime 127-125. Photo by Tim Shirer
