October 27, 2026 at 5:21 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Cavaliers outlast Timberwolves 127-125 in overtime despite Edwards' 47

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Minnesota arrived 3-0 with the league's best defensive rating and left 3-1. Cleveland won the extra period 14-12 to stay unbeaten at home.

Minnesota came to Cleveland 3-0, with the league's best defensive rating, and left 3-1 after a 127-125 overtime loss to the Cavaliers. The Timberwolves had built their start on getting stops, and for a good while Monday night they got them. They led by as many as 15 in the second quarter and took a 60-50 lead into halftime.

Cleveland is 2-1 and 2-0 at home, which is a better record than its defense has earned so far. The Cavs gave up 121 to Brooklyn earlier in the week, and nothing here settled the doubts. Minnesota scored 113 in regulation and 12 more in the extra period. Cleveland came back with a 36-26 third quarter, which included a 12-0 run, and the teams were tied at 86 going into the fourth. James Harden's floater with 10.4 seconds left tied it at 113, and Peyton Watson blocked Edwards' layup at the other end to send the game to overtime. Donovan Mitchell had 26 points and seven assists, James Harden added 19 and nine assists, and Evan Mobley had 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Meleek Thomas gave the Cavs 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench.

The oddsmakers had Cleveland as a 4.5-point favorite, an unusual call against a team with Minnesota's record. The Cavs won, but by two, so they did not cover. They took overtime 14-12. Edwards scored 11 of Minnesota's 12 points in the extra period, including a three that tied it at 121 with 1:03 left, but Mitchell answered with a fadeaway. Down 125-122 with 9.2 seconds left, LaMelo Ball missed both of his free throws, and Edwards missed a three on the next possession. Watson made two free throws, and Edwards' 28-footer at the buzzer only made the final 127-125. Jaden McDaniels fouled out with 3:14 left in overtime and was also called for a technical. Rudy Gobert pulled down 20 rebounds, though he scored just five. Jonathan Kuminga had 10 points and 10 rebounds, a double-double of his own.

The night belonged to Anthony Edwards, who scored 47 in 41 minutes, the most on either side. He could not do it alone. Ball had 11 points, six assists and seven turnovers in 31 minutes. Edwards made 19 of 34 shots. Cleveland made 18 threes to Minnesota's 13, and Mobley's three to open overtime put the Cavs ahead. Minnesota led only once in the extra period, for 21 seconds.

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