Looking Ahead to Cavs-Timberwolves

For the next two games, it’s the Cavs and Timberwolves in a home-and-home set which could prove to be an entertaining pair of contests.

The two face-off on Thursday night in Minnesota before traveling to play in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon – with a special 1PM start time.

Both teams head into the next two playing some good ball.

The Wine & Gold have won four-of-five, with the one loss coming to the East-leading Detroit Pistons. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have been involved in the offense more; Darius Garland is getting back to looking like his old self; some three pointers are starting to fall.

For the Wolves, they are also winners of four-of-five and have won three straight (owning a 24-13 record, good for fifth in the West). In the four wins during that stretch, 122-plus points have been scored. They are in the top-10 in both offensive rating (117.2, 8^th) and defensive rating (112.7, 7^th) while not getting too many contributions from the depth pieces.

Let’s take a quick look at these two squads before they meet first at Target Cetner tonight …

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

It has been well documented through the first (almost) half of the regular season: Donovan Mitchell’s play has been at an all-time high. His 20 30-point games are second most in the league; he’s fourth in the league in scoring; averaging a career-high in points (29.8), field goal percentage (.497), and three-point percentage (.388), as well as leading the league in three-pointers made (133).

But Darius Garland rounding into form has been the thing that has kickstarted the Cavs recent return to form.

The two-time All-Star has scored in double-figures in 14-straight games. Since December 6, Garland is averaging nearly 20 points per game to go with over seven assists per. He’s shooting north of 47 percent from the floor, 35 percent from deep, and 90 percent from the stripe.

In Tuesday’s win against the Pacers, Garland went a perfect 7-7 in the fourth quarter for 14 points, totaling 29 on the night with six assists and zero turnovers. He’s handed out over six assists in five straight.

While on the topic of this week’s earlier win, Craig Porter Jr. has seen an increase in minutes lately and has made them count in impressive fashion. In that same game against Indy, he had a near triple-double, becoming the fourth player in team history with at least 8 PTS, 9 REB, 9 AST, 3 BLK and 2 STL. His calm and steady play coming off the bench has been much needed for Cleveland’s second unit.

The frontcourt has been rock solid, speaking of steady play.

Jarrett Allen has strung together some of his best performances of the season lately, with four straight games of double-digit boards and recording a double-double in three of them. His best outing of the season may have come in San Antonio, scoring 27 points, grabbing 10 boards, and taking a career-high 21 shots.

In that same game against the Spurs, Mobley had 16 points and seven assists, while getting to the foul line 11 times.

Postgame, Kenny Atkinson said he challenges the guards to reward the bigs. “You got to get them the ball. If they don’t touch it, they’re not going to be as involved defensively. Credit to Don and DG for making others better.”

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Much like the Cavs, the Wolves are led by a shooting guard with a signature shoe from adidas in Anthony Edwards. And, much like Mitchell, Edwards is having a career-year across the board.

Ant-man (who led the league in threes last season), is averaging career marks in points (29.3), field goal percentage (.504), and three-point percentage (.407), while turning the ball over less than three times per outing.

The sixth-year guard has 17 games of 30-plus points, with six scoring 40 or more. He has not scored less than 23 points in his last 11 outings.

While Jarrett Allen has the Cavs franchise mark for highest field goal percentage, Rudy Gobert leads the league this year at a whopping 72 percent. The Frenchman also leads the league in dunks, with 101.

Gobert is still good for over one-and-a-half blocks per game (1.7), but is averaging more assists per (1.8) than blocks.  

While led by Edwards and Gobert, the Wolves Naz Reid can hurt teams coming off the bench. Reid set his career-high in scoring (34 points) against the Cavs in Cleveland in 2024. He’s good for about 15 a night while knocking down 37 percent of his shots from deep.

Jaden McDaniels will likely the assignment of guarding Donovan Mitchell. The former All-Defensive team member is averaging about one block and one steal per game this season.