Cavs Questions: Minnesota Arrives 3-0, and the Fourth…

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk · Monday, October 26

Cleveland is 1-1 and ninth in the East, hosting a Minnesota team that has won three straight. Saturday's 125-121 escape against Brooklyn was ugly enough that the closing minutes are the story.

Cavaliers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What are the Cavs facing tonight?

A Timberwolves team that is 3-0 with a three-game winning streak under Chris Finch. Donte DiVincenzo is out with an Achilles injury. Minnesota had two days of rest, Cleveland one. A 1-1 team at home against an unbeaten visitor is a real test, and there is no way to dress it up.

Can Cleveland finally hold a big lead?

Saturday the Cavs led by 22 and won by four after Brooklyn outscored them 41-29 in the fourth, including a 9-0 run that made it 116-120. Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor wrote that the Cavs nearly blew a big lead again. Fear The Sword noted the 29-point lead surrendered on opening night. Two games, same pattern.

What do the Cavs get from James Harden?

Plenty of work, little shooting. Harden had 8 rebounds and 7 assists Saturday but went 1-for-8 from the field with four turnovers, saved by 9-for-11 at the line. He was still on the floor for the closing five minutes. Tonight shows whether the shots come back.

Who closes games for Cleveland?

Saturday's closing five was Mitchell, Mobley, Harden, Allen and Watson. By the final seconds Sam Merrill and Tyrese Proctor were in, and Merrill hit both free throws for a 125-121 lead with five seconds left. Jaylon Tyson scored 8 in the fourth and led the bench with 15 total.

How heavy is this week?

Four games. Minnesota tonight, Washington on Wednesday, at Atlanta on Thursday, at Milwaukee on Saturday, then Oklahoma City on November 2. The Wednesday-Thursday pair is the back-to-back. Cleveland is a game behind sixth place at a half game, so every one of these counts early.

The verdictCleveland has the talent to beat anyone on this schedule and has twice made it harder than it needed to be. Fix the fourth quarter, and the record takes care of itself.

Who do the Cavaliers play tonight?

They host the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 26. Minnesota is 3-0 and Cleveland is 1-1.

Where are the Cavaliers in the East standings?

They are ninth at 1-1, tied in the loss column with tenth-place Orlando at 1-2 behind them, and a half game back of sixth-place Indiana.

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.