Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson spoke to the media following his team’s 131-122 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night at Target Center. The loss dropped Cleveland to 21-18.
Atkinson noted the difference in this failed comeback attempt. “They shot the heck out of it. 53% from three and we shot 33% in this lead. That matters a lot. They made shots tonight but I thought we did a pretty good job getting in the paint and getting two feet in the paint and maybe didn’t finish as great as we wanted to. And then again I think we’re 11 for 33 from three. Just got to shoot it better.”
The coach explained the defensive challenges against Minnesota’s offense. “We pack the paint. Could our contest been better? 53% from three is a big number. It’s tough to win a game in the NBA when a team shoots 53%. We’ve been a little tighter on our shot contest. Just not maybe as proactive as we should have been. I think we missed some switches where we could have switched up and contested them heavy more heavily.”
Atkinson addressed the pattern of digging early holes. “Start of the game 17-5 and then beginning of the third quarter. I did think in the beginning of the third we got some good shots. We got in the paint, didn’t make them. They got some easy transition points and kind of open the floodgate. Credit to them. They beat us fair and square.”
He mentioned the upcoming rematch. “We’ll have another shot at these guys at 1:00 on Saturday.”
On the decision to use the 21st different starting lineup with Craig Porter Jr., Atkinson cited defensive reasons. “It was thinking about his defense and I thought he quite honestly did a pretty good job on Edwards. Edwards wasn’t the one hurting us is there, DiVincenzo and Randle those are kind of role players that did a lot of the damage. Edwards did a lot of damage late but early I thought CP did a pretty good job on them. We did a pretty good job in general in the first half on them.”
Minnesota shot 53% from the field and 53% from three while posting season highs in both categories. The Timberwolves outscored the Cavaliers 43-22 in the third quarter. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell led with 30 points and eight assists while Sam Merrill added 22 points.
The Cavaliers host Minnesota in the season series finale on Saturday afternoon.
