MINNEAPOLIS — The Cleveland Cavaliers have but to find a successful street method.
Regardless of a 14-point lead early within the second half, the fatigued and road-weary Cavs capped their five-game cross-country journey with a 110-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Cleveland went 2-3 this fashion. It is 9-13 away from the pleasant confines of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Timberwolves have gained six of their final seven and are all of a sudden within the high six within the Western Convention.
“We constructed the lead and stopped doing the precise issues and the issues that helped us construct the lead,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff stated after the loss. “We allow them to get again into the sport by turning the ball over and taking highly effective pressured pictures as a substitute of taking pictures what was there. I believe it is a part of our progress and our realization that you may’t become bored with success. Tonight, I assumed that was apparent.”
Bickerstaff spoke earlier than the sport about Saturday night time being a psychological problem. Fifth metropolis in 10 days. A 3rd totally different time zone. Final cease earlier than heading residence.
Advisable Cavs tales
For some time it appeared just like the Cavs have been poised to cross this heavy take a look at. no excuses.
After trailing your complete opening quarter, Cleveland took the lead at 10:24 of a second. They solely held the lead for 20 seconds within the subsequent two quarters mixed. They gained three factors for fourth place.
Twelve minutes stood between them and their successful first wild journey.
However the Cavs could not muster the vitality and end. Cleveland misplaced its lead early within the fourth quarter and did not have one other rally in it, as they have been outscored 33-22 going into the decisive fourth.
“We had a number of psychological lapses and we did not play effectively sufficient to win,” Bickerstaff stated. “The Timberwolves beat us. I believe it is that easy. We did not do sufficient tonight. Prime to backside we did not do sufficient to win this recreation.”
Cleveland’s star guard Donovan Mitchell, who missed taking pictures Saturday morning on account of an sickness, had an uncharacteristically off night time. Mitchell completed with simply 14 factors on 5-of-16 from the sphere and 2-of-9 from 3-point vary.
Cleveland’s greats – Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley – have tried to select up the slack. All scored 19 factors. Mobley overcame an damage scare late within the first half that held the group’s breath away. After batting a knee with Timberwolves ahead Anthony Edwards, the 21-year-old Cavaliers ahead stayed within the locker room at first of the third quarter, and was changed within the first set within the second half by Caris LeVert. However Mobley was finally in a position to calm down his knee and rejoin the crew, recording 31 minutes in all, together with 17 minutes into the second half.
Level guard Darius Garland added 15 factors and 4 assists. Levert cracked with 12 off the bench.
However the Cavs offense fell quick in opposition to the Roaring Wolves, who pressured 18 turnovers tonight – 5 within the fourth quarter – and turned these pricey fumbles into 28 factors.
Edwards put up a profession excessive 26 factors for Minnesota. Nas Reed added 17 off the bench. Jaylen Nowell hit 16. All in all, Minnesota’s second unit outscored Cleveland, 56-27.
After enjoying simply 13 minutes within the first half, the Timberwolves’ Rudi Gobert was dominated out at halftime with proper groin soreness.
It will likely be one other lengthy journey again for the Cavs. They’ve taken six separate street journeys throughout a number of cities to this point this season and have not left any of these journeys with a successful report. The sensation of strolling from the ground of Goal Heart in Minnesota late on a Saturday night time has change into all too acquainted.
“I believe it comes from expertise. I believe that is an important factor,” Mitchell stated. “We’re getting shut to a degree the place it is time to go, you understand what I imply? We really feel it. We had an opportunity to go 3-2 on this wild journey and we had an opportunity to go 4-1 with what occurred in Utah. However we did not. We have to begin selecting it up. If we wish to be who we wish to be, now we have to win on the street. Simply cannot be a house crew. We’ve got moments. We’ve got flashes. However now now we have to gather all of it.”
subsequent one
The Cavs will return residence for Martin Luther King Jr. Day’s recreation in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans. Tipoff is ready for a 3 p.m
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