Cleveland Cavaliers used a dominant second half to secure a 146-134 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, January 10, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 28 points and four 3-pointers as the hosts snapped Minnesota’s four-game winning streak and improved to 22-18 on the season.
The Eastern Conference squad delivered one of its most efficient offensive performances of the year, shooting a season-best 59.2 percent from the field and scoring 146 points, the fourth-most in a regulation game in franchise history.
Evan Mobley finished with 24 points, while reserve Jaylon Tyson added 23 off the bench to provide a major lift in the rotation.
Darius Garland contributed 22 points and six assists, helping the Cavaliers maintain pace during extended scoring exchanges throughout the night.
Sam Merrill scored 20 points and set a franchise record by hitting at least five 3-pointers in four consecutive games, continuing a recent shooting surge.
Jarrett Allen added 16 points and 11 rebounds, marking the 11th time this season that all five Cleveland starters reached double figures.
The contest featured early volatility, with 10 lead changes and one tie in the opening quarter before Minnesota surged to a 47-35 advantage behind hot perimeter shooting.
The Timberwolves carried a slim 65-63 lead into halftime, but the momentum flipped midway through the third quarter when Cleveland ripped off a decisive 12-0 run in just over two minutes.
During that stretch, Merrill knocked down two 3-pointers, Mobley converted back-to-back dunks, and Allen capped the sequence with a floating jumper that pushed the margin to 82-73 with six minutes left in the period.
Minnesota still posted a season-best 57.3 percent shooting night, going 51-of-89 from the field in a loss that underscored the offensive nature of the matchup.
Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid scored 25 points apiece, while Julius Randle added 20.
The Timberwolves had beaten Cleveland 131-122 two nights earlier, but the rematch favored the home side’s depth and second-half execution.
Cleveland has now won five of its last seven games and will host Utah on Monday, while Minnesota heads home to face San Antonio on Sunday.
