The Cleveland Cavaliers lose their second outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Were there any positives? What went wrong? Here’s a look at the Cavaliers 91-104 loss to the Timberwolves
Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus are still out, leaving the Cavs a bit short. They went with a starting lineup of Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang and Jarrett Allen.
Leading the Cavs in scoring was Garland with 19 points, two rebounds and an assist. While he played well, he didn’t play well enough to lead this team to victory in Mitchell’s absence.
Allen, continuing his anchoring play, remains a bright spot for Cleveland. He finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Despite a brief injury scare, Allen played well defensively and kept this team in the game.
Caris LeVert is another player who’s been a highlight for Cleveland recently. He finished with 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. Always playing across the board, LeVert should be (and already is) a valuable asset to this team when fully healthy.
Marcus Morris Sr, with 11 points and seven rebounds, has been an excellent addition to the team. Bringing a consistent level of hustle and physicality is what this team needs to fully unlock their potential. Unfortunately, at least a mostly-healthy team is also required for that.
Niang and Merrill also scored in double digits, and Tristan Thompson scored five points with seven boards. Although the outing was an overall disappointment, multiple players on this team continue to be talented producers.
Anthony Edwards finished this game with a 16 point, 13 rebound double-double with five assists. Although he’s always been good, this is truly his breakout season. The Cavs unfortunately found themselves a victim of his rising star tonight.
Mike Conley led the team in scoring, with 21 points. Naz Reid (18), Jaden McDaniels (15), Kyle Anderson (10) and Jordan McLaughlin (12) all also finished with double digit points. Rudy Gobert just missed out on a double-double, with nine points and 14 rebounds.
The Cavaliers were simply outplayed tonight. The Timberwolves made more shots with a better shooting percentage. They made more threes on a higher three point percentage. They made more points in the paint. They out-rebounded the Cavs on both ends of the floor, and had more blocks. They had more assists, and less turnovers. They had more steaks, and less fouls.
The Cavaliers are certainly missing Mitchell, Mobley and Strus on the court. As the season is winding down, and the standings getting tighter, the Cavs are struggling to maintain course. It’s hard to do that when banged up as much as this Cleveland squad is, but they need to win nonetheless.
Although Allen, LeVert and Garland continue to put up solid numbers, this team needs to find its footing.
The Cavaliers play next on Sunday (March 24) at 6:00 pm in Miami.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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