Minnesota led Cleveland by 15 and went into halftime up 60-50, then gave up 36 points in the third quarter and lost 127-125 in overtime. Anthony Edwards scored 47 and nearly carried it home. The 12-0 run and the free throws at the end decided it.
Twelve Straight in the Third
The swing came midway through the third quarter. Minnesota led 69-58 at the 7:19 mark, and Cleveland ran off 12 straight points to take a 70-69 lead by 4:29, when Chris Finch called timeout. The Cavaliers scored 36 in the quarter and tied it 86-86. Minnesota answered with an 11-0 run early in the fourth that turned 94-90 into 101-94, but a 15-point lead is hard to rebuild once it is gone. There were 16 lead changes and six ties. Regulation ended 113-113. In overtime, Edwards scored 11 of Minnesota's 12 points, and Cleveland still won the period 14-12.
Nine Seconds, Three Chances
James Harden made two free throws with 13 seconds left in overtime to put Cleveland up 125-122. Four seconds later Sam Merrill fouled LaMelo Ball, who missed both free throws. Jonathan Kuminga grabbed the rebound off the second miss, and Edwards' 25-foot pull-up three missed with three seconds left. Peyton Watson rebounded, Rudy Gobert fouled him, and Watson made both. Edwards finished +11 and Kuminga +10. Terrence Shannon Jr. was -13 off the bench in 24 minutes, Ball was -10 and Trey Lyles was -9 in 13 minutes.
Grades, Then Golden State
Edwards gets an A. He shot 19 of 34, had two steals and two blocks, and was cleared from the day-to-day list on Tuesday after being listed with a knee issue before the game. Jaden McDaniels gets a B-plus for 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting with no turnovers in 37 minutes. Joan Beringer went 6 of 6 with 7 rebounds in 17 minutes. Ball gets a D for 7 turnovers, 1-of-6 shooting from three and the two late misses. The loss drops Minnesota to 3-1 and sixth in the West, a game and a half clear of 11th. Golden State comes to Target Center on Wednesday at 1-3, without Kristaps Porzingis, Jimmy Butler III or Moses Moody. The Clippers follow Friday, then the Spurs on the road.
How did the Timberwolves lose to the Cavaliers after leading by 15?
Cleveland scored 36 points in the third quarter, including a 12-0 run, and tied the game 86-86. The Cavaliers then won overtime 14-12 for a 127-125 final.
Is Anthony Edwards playing against the Warriors?
Edwards was listed day-to-day with a knee issue before the Cleveland game and was cleared on October 27. He scored 47 points in 41 minutes against the Cavaliers.
