Game ID: 22400755
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, February 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 30 36 38 24 128MIN 12 32 34 29 107
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 2/02 · 2 days' restOUT LeVert missed 7 since 1/20, returns tonight: 23 min (98% of 24)
OUT Wade missed 4 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 8 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 29 min since (94% of 31)
NEW Jerome 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 5 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 9 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 23 min since (98% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 6 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 10 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (84% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 7 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 11 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restOUT Wade missed 8 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 12 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 9 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 13 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
NEW Merrill 20 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Wade missed 10 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 14 since 1/18, returns tonight: 17 min (91% of 18)
NEW Merrill 20 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 11 since 1/25, returns tonight: 15 min (72% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 17 min since (91% of 18)
NEW Merrill 20 to 27 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 15 min since (72% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 18 min since (95% of 18)
MIN availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT DiVincenzo missed 9 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Clark back 1/25 after 3, 13 min since (106% of 12)
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 17 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 2 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 10 since 1/17, out tonight
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Conley 25 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Dillingham 10 to 16 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/06 · back-to-backOUT Randle missed 3 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 11 since 1/17, out tonight
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 17 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 17 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 4 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 12 since 1/17, out tonight
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 19 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 17 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 5 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 13 since 1/17, out tonight
NEW Reid 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 17 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 6 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 14 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Conley missed 2 since 2/08, out tonight
NEW Reid 27 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/13 · back-to-backOUT Randle missed 7 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 15 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Conley missed 3 since 2/08, out tonight
NEW Reid 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/21 · 7 days' restOUT Randle missed 8 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 16 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Conley missed 4 since 2/08, returns tonight: 24 min (98% of 25)
NEW Reid 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 19 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 9 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Gobert missed 2 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 17 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Conley back 2/21 after 4, 24 min since (98% of 25)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Reid 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 18 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Wade (8 straight), Okoro (12 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 37 and McDaniels at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Randle (5 straight), DiVincenzo (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Minnesota's 36. Call it Cleveland 118, Minnesota 112.
2/02 vs DAL 144-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 144-101. CLE shot 57% (53 of 93) to DAL's 39%, 26 of 45 from three. Merrill led with 27 (9 of 14, 9 of 13 from three); Mobley added 22, Garland 17. The hinge was Q1, 50-19: from level to 31 ahead, and the lead reached 53. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +47.
2/04 vs BOS 105-112 — CLE notes
CLE lost 105-112. CLE shot 40% (36 of 91) to BOS's 41%, 11 of 39 from three, and went to the line 26 times to BOS's 18 — 22 points from the stripe to their 15. Mitchell led with 31 (12 of 25, 4 of 14 from three); Garland added 25, Allen 17. Q4 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 12 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 87-75 against them. LeVert's -23 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/05 @ DET 118-115 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-115. CLE shot 48% (41 of 85) to DET's 40%, 16 of 38 from three. CLE turned it over 23 times to DET's 11, and DET turned those into 13 steals. Mobley led with 30 (10 of 16, 3 of 5 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Garland added 25, Porter Jr. 16. The hinge was Q1, 34-26: from level to 8 ahead. Jerome was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/07 @ WAS 134-124 — CLE notes
CLE won 134-124. CLE shot 51% (48 of 94) to WAS's 49%, 16 of 38 from three. Mitchell led with 33 (12 of 26, 4 of 11 from three); Mobley added 27, Garland 23. The hinge was Q4, 40-31: a lead of 1 became 10, and the lead reached 16. CLE trailed 64-67 at the half and won the second half 70-57. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/10 vs MIN 128-107 — CLE notes
CLE won 128-107. CLE shot 51% (48 of 94) to MIN's 40%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MIN's 30. Mobley led with 28 (12 of 19, 1 of 4 from three); Mitchell added 23, Garland 17. The hinge was Q1, 30-12: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/12 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Barnes at 21 and Quickley at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Barrett (5 straight), Poeltl (4 straight), Lawson (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Wade (9 straight), Okoro (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-4 a night and Toronto minus-9 and the arc, Cleveland at 42 percent from three to Toronto's 33. Call it Cleveland 120, Toronto 110, Cleveland by 10.
2/20 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 97, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 16 and K. Johnson at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thomas (20 straight), Clowney (7 straight). 7 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Wade (10 straight), Okoro (14 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 97 a night to Cleveland's 113 and the arc, Cleveland at 37 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it Cleveland 112, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
2/21 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Brunson at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Anunoby (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to New York's 124 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and New York minus-1. Call it Cleveland 122, New York 115.
2/23 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bane at 20 and Morant at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-10 a night and Memphis plus-0 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 119. Call it Cleveland 123, Memphis 112, Cleveland by 11.
2/03 vs SAC 114-116 — MIN notes
MIN lost 114-116. MIN shot 46% (43 of 94) to SAC's 49%, 12 of 40 from three. The glass went 36-47 against them. Reid led with 30 (12 of 19, 5 of 9 from three); McDaniels added 22, Edwards 21. Q3 was theirs, 27-21, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 95-87 against them. Dillingham's -6 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/05 vs CHI 127-108 — MIN notes
MIN won 127-108. MIN shot 43% (42 of 98) to CHI's 48%, 20 of 47 from three, and went to the line 28 times to CHI's 22 — 23 points from the stripe to their 16. The glass went 59-34 for them. Edwards led with 49 (13 of 28, 6 of 14 from three, 17 of 18 at the line); Reid added 22, McDaniels 12. The hinge was Q4, 33-18: a lead of 4 became 19. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/06 vs HOU 127-114 — MIN notes
MIN won 127-114. MIN shot 48% (45 of 94) to HOU's 49%, 16 of 39 from three. Edwards led with 41 (11 of 25, 5 of 12 from three, 14 of 15 at the line); Clark added 17, Conley 16. The hinge was Q4, 35-16: MIN came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 13. MIN trailed 66-71 at the half and won the second half 61-43. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/08 vs POR 114-98 — MIN notes
MIN won 114-98. MIN shot 52% (43 of 82) to POR's 40%, 10 of 28 from three, and went to the line 28 times to POR's 22 — 18 points from the stripe to their 17. McDaniels led with 30 (12 of 17, 6 of 7 at the line); Reid added 23, Alexander-Walker 21. The hinge was Q4, 38-14: MIN came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 16. MIN trailed 47-60 at the half and won the second half 67-38. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
2/10 @ CLE 107-128 — MIN notes
MIN lost 107-128. MIN shot 40% (36 of 90) to CLE's 51%, 12 of 39 from three, and went to the line 30 times to CLE's 20 — 23 points from the stripe to their 15. Edwards led with 44 (13 of 28, 8 of 15 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Dillingham added 13, Gobert 12. Q4 was theirs, 29-24, the deficit cut from 26 to 21, but the other 3 periods went 104-78 against them. Alexander-Walker's -33 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 39 and Reid at 20 a game. Without Randle (6 straight), DiVincenzo (14 straight), Conley (2 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Lillard at 33 and Portis at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Antetokounmpo (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-2 a night and Milwaukee minus-5 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 20. Call it Minnesota 117, Milwaukee 110.
2/13 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 40 and Reid at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Randle (7 straight), DiVincenzo (15 straight), Conley (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Wallace (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 13 times a game to OKC's 10 and the arc, OKC at 39 percent from three to Minnesota's 35. Call it OKC 114, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
2/21 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Green at 20 and Sengun at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without VanVleet (7 straight), Smith Jr. (22 straight). 7 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 34 and Reid at 19 a game. Without Randle (8 straight), DiVincenzo (16 straight), Conley (4 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Houston 110, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
2/23 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 28 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 33 and Reid at 21 a game. Without Randle (9 straight), Gobert (2 straight), DiVincenzo (17 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 41 percent from three to Minnesota's 28 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-3 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it OKC 113, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Mitchell
EB E. Bates
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
LT L. Travers
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
MINAE A. Edwards
JC J. Clark
JI J. Ingles
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. Minott
LG L. Garza
LM L. Miller
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RD R. Dillingham
RG R. Gobert
TN T. Newton
TS T. Shannon Jr.
CLE/MIN 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
All-Stars Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell pace Cavs to 128-107 win over slow-starting Timberwolves
CLEVELAND -- — Evan Mobley scored 28 points, fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers broke out to a big early lead and had little trouble against Minnesota, beating the Timberwolves 128-107 on Monday night.
The East-leading Cavs scored the game's first 16 points. They welcomed new addition De'Andre Hunter and improved to 25-4 at home.
The versatile Hunter, who gives Cleveland a much-needed wing defender for the playoffs, was acquired last week from Atlanta. He started his Cavs debut in place of an injured Max Strus and finished with 12 points in 23 minutes.
All-Star Anthony Edwards scored 44 to pace Minnesota, which missed its first 16 shots and scored just 12 in the first quarter.
Hunter's 3-pointer — his first basket for Cleveland — put the Cavs ahead 40-16 in the second quarter.
The Timberwolves didn't get closer than 15 the rest of the way.
Mitchell went 10 of 14 from the floor and added eight assists. Cleveland's Jarrett Allen had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Before the game, an arbitration panel ruled t hat controlling Minnesota owner Glen Taylor must cede control of the team to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who agreed to buy the club for $1.5 billion three years ago.
Takeaways Timberwolves: The brutal shooting start was dooming. Minnesota's first five points came on free throws before Edwards finally knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:54 left in the first.
Cavaliers: Coach Kenny Atkinson is intrigued by the possibilities with Hunter, who can start or come off the bench.
Key moment The Cavs got 3-pointers from rookie Jaylon Tyson and Ty Jerome , after he stole an inbounds pass, in the final 3.2 seconds of the third quarter to push their lead to 26.
Key stat Cleveland is 21-3 when Mobley scores at least 20.
Up next Timberwolves host Milwaukee on Wednesday while Cavaliers are at Toronto in its final game before the break.