After getting hammered by a depleted OKC squad the Cavs move on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road. The Timberwolves are 22-19 and will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back with travel after having played the Knicks in New York Friday. They also will be playing their 3rd game in four days with travel between each game.
The Timberwolves are excellent defensively, ranking 4th in points allowed per game. They are below average offensively, ranking 22nd at 109.8 ppg.
Offensively they will be led by Anthony Edwards at 25.9 ppg. Edwards is shooting 44% from the field and 42% on 3’s. He torched the Knicks for 36 points last night.
Julius Randle averages 19.5 ppg on 48% overall and 35% on 3’s. Rudy Gobert averages 10.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Jaden McDaniels averages 12.0 points and 37-year-old point guard Mike Conley averages 7.7 ppg. Backup center Naz Reid averages 13.0 points.
The Wolves play slow, ranking 26th in field goal attempts per game and 26th in fast break points. They are only 21st in 2-point percentage. They commit a lot of turnovers (25th). The only thing that saves them from ranking lower than 22nd in scoring is they shoot a lot of 3’s and are very good at making them.
The T-Wolves rank 3rd in 3-point rate. They are very good at shooting 3’s ranking 4th in 3-point percentage. They rank 4th in 3-pointers made per game. They are 25th in points in the paint so they prefer to shoot from outside.
Defensively the Wolves are good across the board. They very good defending 3-point shots (5th) and 2-point shots (9th). They are 10th at preventing points in the paint and 8th in effective field goal percentage.
Minnesota Is 10-9 at home. They may be missing Donte DiVincenzo who averages 11.0 ppg.
Last night the Wolves beat the Knicks 116-99 in New York. The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns.
After the nasty beatdown in OKC the Cavs could really use a win. Hopefully the Wolves will be tired after playing in NY last night and then flying to Minnesota. The key will be containing Anthony Edwards after the Cavs were abused by SGA to the tune of 40 points in 29 minutes. The Julius Randle/Evan Mobley matchup will be interesting. Minnesota is not a good offensive team but the Cavs’ defense has not been good lately, allowing an average of nearly 122 ppg in their last five games.
Injury Report
CLEVELAND
Luke Travers - OUT (ankle)
Emoni Bates - OUT (ankle)
Evan Mobley - QUESTIONABLE (calf)
Isaac Okoro - QUESTIONABLE (shoulder)
MINNESOTA
Donte DiVincenzo - OUT (toe)
Terrence Shannon Jr - OUT (foot)
The Timberwolves are excellent defensively, ranking 4th in points allowed per game. They are below average offensively, ranking 22nd at 109.8 ppg.
Offensively they will be led by Anthony Edwards at 25.9 ppg. Edwards is shooting 44% from the field and 42% on 3’s. He torched the Knicks for 36 points last night.
Julius Randle averages 19.5 ppg on 48% overall and 35% on 3’s. Rudy Gobert averages 10.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Jaden McDaniels averages 12.0 points and 37-year-old point guard Mike Conley averages 7.7 ppg. Backup center Naz Reid averages 13.0 points.
The Wolves play slow, ranking 26th in field goal attempts per game and 26th in fast break points. They are only 21st in 2-point percentage. They commit a lot of turnovers (25th). The only thing that saves them from ranking lower than 22nd in scoring is they shoot a lot of 3’s and are very good at making them.
The T-Wolves rank 3rd in 3-point rate. They are very good at shooting 3’s ranking 4th in 3-point percentage. They rank 4th in 3-pointers made per game. They are 25th in points in the paint so they prefer to shoot from outside.
Defensively the Wolves are good across the board. They very good defending 3-point shots (5th) and 2-point shots (9th). They are 10th at preventing points in the paint and 8th in effective field goal percentage.
Minnesota Is 10-9 at home. They may be missing Donte DiVincenzo who averages 11.0 ppg.
Last night the Wolves beat the Knicks 116-99 in New York. The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns.
After the nasty beatdown in OKC the Cavs could really use a win. Hopefully the Wolves will be tired after playing in NY last night and then flying to Minnesota. The key will be containing Anthony Edwards after the Cavs were abused by SGA to the tune of 40 points in 29 minutes. The Julius Randle/Evan Mobley matchup will be interesting. Minnesota is not a good offensive team but the Cavs’ defense has not been good lately, allowing an average of nearly 122 ppg in their last five games.
Injury Report
CLEVELAND
Luke Travers - OUT (ankle)
Emoni Bates - OUT (ankle)
Evan Mobley - QUESTIONABLE (calf)
Isaac Okoro - QUESTIONABLE (shoulder)
MINNESOTA
Donte DiVincenzo - OUT (toe)
Terrence Shannon Jr - OUT (foot)