NBA: Cavaliers outlast Edwards' 47 points to beat Timberwolves in overtime

Cleveland finally broke Minnesota in a game that needed five extra minutes. Winning 127–125 at the Rocket Arena on Monday, 26 October, the Cavaliers answered Anthony Edwards' 47 points with a collective response and a better-managed overtime. Donovan Mitchell finished with 26 points, five of them in that final period. The Timberwolves' run of three wins to open the season is over.

Ten points to claw back at half-time

Minnesota had in fact taken the early advantage. The visitors won the first quarter 31–24, then the second 29–26. At the break Cleveland therefore trailed 60–50 and needed to find some efficiency to get back into the game.

The response came in the third quarter. The Cavaliers scored 36 points to Minnesota's 26: the ten points clawed back in that period alone levelled the game at 86–86. Cleveland had wiped out its deficit, but had still not put the Timberwolves at arm's length.

The final period of regulation did not separate the two sides. Each scored 27 points, making it 113–113. Overtime was ultimately decided by a slim margin: 14 points for the Cavaliers, 12 for Minnesota.

Mitchell leads a team response

Mitchell added five rebounds and seven assists to his 26 points. James Harden contributed 19 points and nine assists, while Evan Mobley finished with a double-double of 18 points and ten rebounds. Cleveland thus found several outlets and did not depend on a single scorer.

The depth of that contribution shows in the numbers: seven Cavaliers reached ten points. Meleek Thomas scored 16, Peyton Watson 15, Jaylon Tyson 11 and Jarrett Allen 10. Watson also took eight rebounds and made three steals and four blocks. Those contributions allowed the home side to answer a major offensive performance at the other end.

Edwards immense, but Minnesota fall short

Edwards scored 47 points in 41 minutes, making 19 of 34 shots, including five of fifteen from three-point range. He also added four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. His scoring volume shows how hard Cleveland had to work to stay in the game, and then win it.

Jonathan Kuminga posted a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds. Rudy Gobert pulled down twenty rebounds, eight of them offensive, but finished without a single basket from nine attempts. Jaden McDaniels added fourteen points and LaMelo Ball eleven. That rebounding presence and Edwards' output were not enough to preserve Minnesota's unbeaten record.

The Cavaliers now stand at two wins and one defeat. Minnesota remain well placed with three wins, but concede their first loss. The two-point final margin underlines above all how hard it is to turn a half-time lead into a win in such a closely fought game.

SNA contribution