Cavs vs. Timberwolves: Preview, odds, injury report, TV
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavs host the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday as the start to a three-game homestand.
After a brief trip to Atlanta saw the Cavs fall 112-101 to the Hawks due to a slow start and finish, the Cavs look to return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and tap into the magic their home arena and crowd have provided them.
Over the last two weeks, the Cavs have had two miraculous wins over playoff-contending teams, with Max Strus’ 15-point fourth quarter against the Mavericks and Dean Wade’s 20-point final frame against the Celtics.
The Timberwolves are coming off an exciting win against the Indiana Pacers that saw star guard Anthony Edwards finish with 44 points and a game-saving block. The Cavs look to slow the momentum of the Western Conference top-seeded Timberwolves in the second game of a back-to-back for Minnesota.
Unfortunately, both teams are dealing with injuries that severely impact their lineups. The Cavs will be without Donovan Mitchell (knee), Evan Mobley (ankle), and Strus (knee) in Friday’s contest, while the Timberwolves will be without Karl-Anthony Towns, who will undergo surgery for his torn left meniscus.
Minnesota has proven to have two players step up in Towns’ absence, with Rudy Gobert increasing his productivity in the paint. The Cavs are still waiting for a second player to step up consistently, along with Jarrett Allen, and many eyes are on the team’s highest-paid player in franchise history, Darius Garland.
21+ and present in Ohio. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.Here’s what to know about the matchup:
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (40-22) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (44-19).
Series: First meeting this regular season.
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
When: 7:30 p.m. EDT.
The point spread: Timberwolves minus-1.5; O/U 208.5
TV: ESPN and WUAB CW 43
Injury report
Cavs: Evan Mobley (ankle), OUT; Max Strus (knee), OUT; Donovan Mitchell (knee), OUT; Ty Jerome (right ankle surgery), OUT; Tristan Thompson (suspension), OUT.
Timberwolves: Monte Morris (hamstring), QUESTIONABLE; Karl-Anthony Towns (knee), OUT; Jaylen Clark (Achilles), OUT.
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