Cavaliers close out five-game home winning streak against Timberwolves
Cleveland overcame a 15-point deficit and 47 points from Anthony Edwards to win 127-125 in overtime.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Cleveland Cavaliers fans saw their team come back from a large second-quarter hole to win 127-125 in overtime against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. The victory extends Cleveland's home winning streak against Minnesota to four games.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points for the Cavaliers, including five in the extra period. James Harden added 19 points, and Evan Mobley finished with 18. Rookie Meleek Thomas, selected 34th overall in the June draft, scored 16 points in his first NBA game.
The Timberwolves led 69-58 with 7:31 remaining in the first quarter. They held a 15-point advantage during the second quarter before Cleveland scored 12 straight points. That run included eight points from Harden and erased Minnesota's early lead.
The final 21.5 minutes featured 15 lead changes and five ties. Anthony Edwards made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 121. Mitchell then hit a 19-foot fadeaway jumper with 48 seconds left to put Cleveland ahead for the final time.
Harden sank two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to make it 125-122. Sam Merrill fouled LaMelo Ball with 9.2 seconds left, but Ball missed both shots. Edwards grabbed the rebound but missed a wide-open 3-pointer from the top of the key. Peyton Watson made both of his free throws with 3.9 seconds left to seal the win.
Edwards scored 47 points, his highest output against Cleveland. It is the seventh time in his five-year career that he has scored at least 47 points in a single game. He shot 19 of 33 from the floor but only 5 of 15 from beyond the arc. Jaden McDaniels had 14 points before fouling out, and Terrence Shannon Jr. added 14 off the bench.
The Timberwolves will host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. The Cavaliers will host the Washington Wizards on the same night.
