Game ID: 22300911
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday, March 8, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
CLE 25 29 25 18 16 113MIN 23 27 30 17 7 104
CLE vs MIN ScoutingCLE vs MIN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Merrill missed 2 since 2/27, returns tonight: 25 min (151% of 17)
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 11 min (90% of 13)
OUT Thompson missed 17 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 2/25 after 2, 40 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Wade back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (53% of 20)
CLE availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 18 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 2/25 after 2, 40 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 25 min since (151% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 11 min since (90% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT LeVert missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 30 min (105% of 28)
OUT Thompson missed 19 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 27 min since (161% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 10 min since (78% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 20 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 30 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 28 min since (168% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 9 min since (68% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 21 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 33 min since (116% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 26 min since (153% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 10 min since (80% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 22 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 33 min since (118% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 24 min since (144% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 9 min since (69% of 13)
NEW Allen 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 34 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 3 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 23 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 32 min since (114% of 28)
NEW Okoro 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 7 since 3/01, returns tonight: 28 min (78% of 36)
OUT Strus missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 24 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 32 min since (114% of 28)
NEW Allen 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 22 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Strus missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 25 since 1/24, returns tonight: 16 min (144% of 11)
BACK Mitchell back 3/13 after 7, 28 min since (78% of 36)
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restNEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Anderson missed 2 since 2/28, returns tonight: 14 min (68% of 21)
NEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backBACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 14 min since (68% of 21)
NEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/07 · 2 days' restOUT McLaughlin missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 22 min since (101% of 21)
NEW Morris 13 to 19 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/08 · back-to-backOUT McLaughlin missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 11 min (100% of 11)
BACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 24 min since (111% of 21)
MIN availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Towns missed 2 since 3/07, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 27 min since (124% of 21)
BACK McLaughlin back 3/08 after 3, 11 min since (100% of 11)
NEW Gobert 34 to 40 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Towns missed 3 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 3/03 after 2, 27 min since (124% of 21)
BACK McLaughlin back 3/08 after 3, 16 min since (150% of 11)
MIN availability going into 3/16 · 3 days' restOUT Towns missed 4 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 3/08, returns tonight: 10 min (78% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 3/08 after 3, 16 min since (154% of 11)
NEW Reid 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Anderson 21 to 30 min over the last 4
MIN availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Towns missed 5 since 3/07, out tonight
BACK Morris back 3/16 after 3, 10 min since (78% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 3/08 after 3, 16 min since (153% of 11)
NEW Reid 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Anderson 21 to 31 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Eva. Mobley at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Mitchell (4 straight), Strus (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Towns at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-9 and the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Cleveland's 17. Call it Cleveland 111, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/01 @ DET 110-100 — CLE notes
CLE won 110-100. CLE shot 40% (33 of 83) to DET's 37%, 18 of 41 from three. CLE turned it over 15 times to DET's 8, and DET turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 53-42 for them. Garland led with 29 (9 of 21, 8 of 12 from three); Mobley added 22, Strus 14. The hinge was Q1, 32-24: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/03 vs NYK 98-107 — CLE notes
CLE lost 98-107. CLE shot 45% (39 of 87) to NYK's 49%, 17 of 44 from three. Merrill led with 21 (7 of 13, 7 of 13 from three); Garland added 19, Allen 18. Q2 was theirs, 34-23, turning a 9-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 84-64 against them. Strus's -10 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/05 vs BOS 105-104 — CLE notes
CLE won 105-104. CLE shot 43% (39 of 90) to BOS's 42%, 20 of 42 from three. CLE turned it over 8 times to BOS's 13. The glass went 42-53 against them. Wade led with 23 (8 of 11, 6 of 9 from three); Allen added 21, Garland 16. The hinge was Q4, 34-17: CLE came in trailing by 16 and left it ahead by 1. CLE trailed 45-55 at the half and won the second half 60-49. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/06 @ ATL 101-112 — CLE notes
CLE lost 101-112. CLE shot 44% (39 of 89) to ATL's 51%, 10 of 44 from three. Allen led with 18 (7 of 11); Okoro added 17, Garland 15. Q3 was theirs, 40-23, turning a 15-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-61 against them. Niang's -16 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 vs MIN 113-104 — CLE notes
CLE won 113-104 in 1 overtime. CLE shot 43% (38 of 88) to MIN's 41%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 36 times to MIN's 22 — 26 points from the stripe to their 18. Garland led with 34 (13 of 26, 2 of 10 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Allen added 33, Niang 16. The hinge was OT1, 16-7: from level to 9 ahead. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/10 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 105, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Garland at 23 and Allen at 20 a game. Without Mitchell (5 straight), Strus (3 straight), Eva. Mobley (2 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 20 and Schröder at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Cam. Johnson (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been minus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-7. Call it Cleveland 113, Brooklyn 106.
3/11 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mitchell (6 straight), Strus (4 straight), Eva. Mobley (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Beal at 20 a game. Without Booker (4 straight), Okogie (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 11. Call it Cleveland 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/13 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murphy III at 22 and Ingram at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Daniels (12 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 22 and Allen at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mitchell (7 straight), Strus (5 straight), Eva. Mobley (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Cleveland's 35 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5. Call it New Orleans 116, Cleveland 107.
3/16 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 23 and VanVleet at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 24 and Allen at 20 a game. Without Strus (6 straight), Eva. Mobley (5 straight), Wade (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 35. Call it Houston 114, Cleveland 110, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/01 vs SAC 120-124 — MIN notes
MIN lost 120-124 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 49% (42 of 85) to SAC's 50%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 32 times to SAC's 24 — 24 points from the stripe to their 13. MIN turned it over 12 times to SAC's 7, and SAC turned those into 8 steals. McDaniels led with 26 (9 of 11, 5 of 7 from three); Towns added 19, Reid 18. Q4 was theirs, 33-24, the deficit cut from 9 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 100-87 against them. Conley's -22 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 vs LAC 88-89 — MIN notes
MIN lost 88-89. MIN shot 39% (31 of 80) to LAC's 38%, 9 of 33 from three. MIN turned it over 15 times to LAC's 9. The glass went 54-40 for them. Edwards led with 27 (9 of 20, 3 of 10 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Towns added 18, Gobert 12. Q1 was theirs, 30-18, but the other 3 periods went 71-58 against them. They led by as many as 16. Reid's -18 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/04 vs POR 119-114 — MIN notes
MIN won 119-114. MIN shot 51% (40 of 79) to POR's 49%, 11 of 28 from three, and went to the line 37 times to POR's 11 — 28 points from the stripe to their 8. Gobert led with 25 (9 of 10, 7 of 7 at the line); Conley added 19, Towns 14. The hinge was Q2, 27-22: a lead of 2 became 7, and the lead reached 15. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/07 @ IND 113-111 — MIN notes
MIN won 113-111. MIN shot 47% (46 of 98) to IND's 51%, 7 of 25 from three. MIN turned it over 9 times to IND's 15. Edwards led with 44 (18 of 35, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Gobert added 18, Reid 13. The hinge was Q1, 33-23: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 17.
3/08 @ CLE 104-113 — MIN notes
MIN lost 104-113 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 41% (39 of 94) to CLE's 43%, 8 of 30 from three, and got to the line 22 times to CLE's 36. Reid led with 34 (10 of 18, 7 of 11 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Edwards added 19, McDaniels 13. Q3 was theirs, 30-25, turning a 4-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 88-74 against them.
3/10 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 21 free throws a game; James at 27 and Russell at 24 a game. Without Vanderbilt (15 straight), Vincent (37 straight), Wood (9 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Towns at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Towns (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 44 percent from three to Minnesota's 32 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 110 a night to the Lakers' 122. Call it the Lakers 115, Minnesota 114, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/12 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and George at 22 a game. Without Westbrook (5 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Reid at 17 a game. Without Towns (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 112, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/16 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Clarkson at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. Without Markkanen (5 straight), Lofton Jr. (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 18 a game. Without Towns (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 112 a night to Utah's 124 and the arc, Utah at 38 percent from three to Minnesota's 33. Call it Minnesota 117, Utah 114, Utah keeping it close.
3/18 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 24 and Sexton at 21 a game. Without Markkanen (6 straight), Clarkson (2 straight), Lofton Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Reid at 20 a game. Without Towns (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 109 a night to Utah's 125 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-3 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it Minnesota 117, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. McLaughlin
KA K. Anderson
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
TW T. Warren
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DJ D. Jones
DW D. Wade
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
SM S. Merrill
MIN/CLE the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Darius Garland scores 34, Jarrett Allen 33 as Cavaliers outlast Timberwolves 113-104 in overtime
CLEVELAND -- — Darius Garland scored 34 points, Jarrett Allen added a career-high 33 and 18 rebounds and the injury-thinned Cleveland Cavaliers handed the NBA's best road team a loss, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-104 in overtime Friday night.
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 and won their eighth straight against a Western Conference team.
It was Cleveland's eecond win in four days against one of the league's elite teams. On Tuesday, the Cavs rallied from 22 points down in the final minutes to stun the East-leading Boston Celtics .
“It just boosts us for when everybody else gets back,” Allen said. “Contrary to belief, we're better when everybody is in the lineup.”
Cleveland was without starters Donovan Mitchell , Evan Mobley and Max Strus because of injuries but had enough to down the Timberwolves, who could be excused for being tired following a 113-111 win at Indiana on Thursday.
With the loss, Minnesota fell a half game behind Oklahoma City for the Western Conference lead.
Naz Reid scored a career-high 34 and Anthony Edwards 19 — on just 7-of-27 shooting — for Minnesota, which came in a league-best 21-11 on the road.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch sat out after feeling ill shortly before tipoff. He met with reporters about 90 minutes before the game and didn’t mention any issues. Assistant Micah Nori filled in for Finch.
The Cavs were helped by Minnesota center Rudy Gobert , who was called for a technical foul with 27 seconds left.
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.
Foster didn't see the gesture, but official Natalie Sago did and T'd up Gobert, who finished with 17 rebounds in 37 minutes.
Nori was disappointed and displeased with Gobert.
“A technical foul with 27 seconds in the game, to be honest, is unacceptable," Nori said. "That’s who Rudy is, but you’ve got to be smart. He made a visual that was automatic. He was obviously frustrated — both teams were — but we have to be smarter.”
Gobert admitted he was wrong in making the gesture.
“My reaction, which I think was the truth, but it wasn’t the time to react that way," he said. "It cost my team the game. It was an immature reaction. It’s not just one call. Everyone makes mistakes, but when it’s over and over and over again, of course it’s frustrating.”
Garland made the technical to tie it at 97. Minnesota had one last chance in regulation, but Edwards' baseline jumper at the horn was off.
The Timberwolves were also missing All-Star center Karl-Anthony-Towns. He's scheduled to have knee surgery next week and will be out at least one month.
Edwards was coming off a 44-point performance in the win over Indiana, a game he sealed with a chase-down block in the final second before striking his head on the bottom of the backboard.
He didn't do anything quite that sensational, though Edwards did get called for a technical after dunking on Allen — much to the delight of Minnesota's bench.
Mitchell missed his third game with a left knee bone bruise. Cleveland's leading scorer and All-Star received a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier this week and will be reevaluated Saturday.
“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.”