The Cleveland Cavaliers, despite being shorthanded, pulled off an impressive 113-104 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the NBA’s top road team, on Friday night. Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen led the way for Cleveland, with Garland scoring 34 points and Allen achieving a career-high 33 points along with 18 rebounds.
Allen made a career-best 15 free throws, including 14 after halftime. He scored 10 points in overtime as the Cavs outscored the Timberwolves 16-7.
The Cavaliers were without key players Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Max Strus due to injuries but managed to secure the win. The Timberwolves, coming off a narrow victory the previous night, fell slightly behind Oklahoma City in the Western Conference standings.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards spearheaded Minnesota’s effort, with Reid scoring a career-high 34 points and Edwards adding 19, despite struggling with his shooting.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch was unexpectedly absent due to illness, with assistant Micah Nori stepping in. The game’s intensity was further amplified by a technical foul called on Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert in the closing moments.
After being whistled for a disqualifying sixth foul – a push underneath on offense – by official Scott Foster, Gobert rubbed his fingers together and made the money sign as if implying the referee was on the take.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Foster didn’t see the gesture, but official Natalie Sago did and T’d up Gobert, who finished with 17 rebounds in 37 minutes. Garland capitalized on the technical foul, tying the game and pushing it to overtime, where Cleveland ultimately prevailed. Minnesota was also without All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who is facing knee surgery.
The Timberwolves’ Edwards, following a standout performance in their last game, was unable to replicate his previous heroics, though he did earn a technical foul for dunking on Allen.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Mitchell’s absence was felt by the Cavaliers, but the team remains hopeful for his return following a platelet-rich plasma injection.
“He’s progressed,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He’s doing stuff on the floor. It just becomes the next workout and the next workout and how he feels and then continuing to ramp up from there.”
Both teams are looking forward to their next matchups, with the Timberwolves facing the Lakers and the Cavaliers hosting Brooklyn.
