Overtime thriller: Mitchell sinks fadeaway to seal Cavs win
Cleveland erased a 15-point deficit to beat Minnesota 127-125, ending the Timberwolves' season-opening home stand.
By Kwame Silva ·
Donovan Mitchell sank a 19-foot fadeaway jumper with 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter to put the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead for the final time. The shot gave Cleveland a 124-122 lead that the team held onto through a chaotic finish, resulting in a 127-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.
The Cavaliers, who trailed by 15 points in the second quarter, outscored Minnesota in a frantic final stretch that featured 15 lead changes and five ties in the last 21 and a half minutes. James Harden, who finished with 19 points, tied the game at 113 with 10.4 seconds left in regulation using a seven-foot floater from the left corner. That bucket forced the overtime period that decided the outcome.
Anthony Edwards scored 47 points for the Timberwolves, his highest total against Cleveland in his five-year career. Despite the high volume, Edwards was inefficient from deep, going 5 for 15 on three-pointers while shooting 19 for 33 from the floor. Jaden McDaniels added 14 points before fouling out, and Terrence Shannon Jr. contributed 14 from the bench. The Timberwolves dropped their fifth straight home game, ending a season-opening run that had included a 15-point lead in the second quarter.
Cleveland’s defense tightened as the clock wound down. Sam Merrill fouled LaMelo Ball with 9.2 seconds remaining, but Ball missed both free throws. Edwards grabbed the rebound and attempted a wide-open three-pointer from the top of the key, but the shot missed. Peyton Watson then sank two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to put the game out of reach. Before that, Harden had hit two free throws with 13 seconds left to put Cleveland up 125-122.
Meleek Thomas, the 34th overall pick in the June NBA Draft, made his debut with 16 points. Evan Mobley added 18 points for the Cavaliers, who have now won their last four home matchups against Minnesota. The Cavaliers host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, while the Timberwolves welcome the Golden State Warriors at the same time.
