The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Cleveland leads the Eastern Conference with a 42-10 record, while Minnesota sits sixth in the Western Conference at 30-23. The Cavaliers won the last meeting between these teams on January 18, 124-117.
Cleveland recently added De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline, strengthening a team already in strong form. Minnesota, on the other hand, is dealing with key injuries but remains competitive, winning eight of their last ten games. The Timberwolves will look to overcome their injury concerns against one of the top teams in the league.
Cavaliers Preview – Hunter Makes His Debut
The Cavaliers continue to dominate the Eastern Conference, holding a 5.5-game lead over Boston. Donovan Mitchell leads the team in scoring with 24.0 points per game, while Darius Garland is shooting 43.4% from three, ranking seventh in the NBA. Cleveland has won six of its last seven games, most recently defeating Washington 134-124.
Cleveland ranks second in the NBA in both points per game (122.4) and shooting percentage (49.8%). Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley anchor a strong interior presence, helping the Cavs control the boards. The addition of Hunter should provide more offensive spacing and perimeter defense.
The Cavaliers have been solid at home, posting a 24-4 record at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. With Hunter expected to make his debut, Cleveland will try to integrate him into a team that is already a top contender in the East.
Timberwolves Preview – Injuries Piling Up
Minnesota has been playing well despite missing key players. Anthony Edwards sat out the last game with a hip issue, Mike Conley remains sidelined with a finger injury, and Julius Randle is still out with a groin strain. Donte DiVincenzo is also unavailable with a toe injury.
The Timberwolves rely on their defense, ranking fourth in the league while allowing 108.0 points per game. However, they struggle with turnovers, averaging 14.5 per game. Offensively, they have been inconsistent, shooting 46.4% from the field.
In their last game, Minnesota rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat Portland 114-98. Jaden McDaniels had a career-high 30 points, while Naz Reid added 23. The Timberwolves will need similar efforts from their role players if they want to compete with Cleveland.
Betting Prediction
The Cavaliers are favored by 8.5 points, with the total set at 228.5. Cleveland has been one of the best teams in the league against the spread, covering in 33 of their 52 games. Minnesota, however, has been solid on the road, covering in 30 of their last 47 away games.
With Minnesota dealing with injuries, Cleveland should have the advantage at home. The Cavaliers’ offense is efficient, and they have added another scoring option in Hunter. Expect Cleveland to win and cover the spread.
Pick: Cavaliers -8.5
Take the Cavaliers to grab this one.
