Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson praised his team’s effort after a 146-134 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.
“They shot the heck out of it again. I thought our defensive process was good,” Atkinson said, highlighting the challenge posed by Minnesota’s efficient shooting.
He credited his starters for maintaining intensity, noting, “I thought our starters were great. I thought Jaylon Tyson did a darn good job on Anthony Edwards. We tried to wear him down. That was the game plan.”
Atkinson singled out Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley for their physical play. “When Jarrett offensive rebounds, when he rebounds like that, we usually win,” he said. He added, “Evan was eight for eight at the rim. Played with force.”
The coach praised Donovan Garland’s leadership, saying, “DG is our motor. He’s our electricity.”
Atkinson reflected on the team’s offensive balance, especially Garland and Mobley. “This version of Evan, that’s what we all want to see more often,” he said. “Darius finishing from those areas, with balance on the shot, though you got to shoot them against Rudy—like, it’s not easy. We don’t win that game without him.”
Tyson’s defensive effort also drew praise. “He was locked in tonight. He’s got elite work ethic and daily habits. That separates him from your normal young guy,” Atkinson noted.
He commented on the team’s improvement over the season, saying, “You would hope the results start to catch up. At halftime I was trying to encourage them: it’s okay, our process is right. The results will eventually come.”
The physicality against Minnesota was another point of emphasis. “They’re a physically imposing squad. Evan and J flipped the narrative from Minnesota. They were the more forceful team,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson also highlighted Sam Merrill’s contributions. “Even that late dish to the dunker, DG kind of gets downhill and slips out. We’ve rewarded our bigs, and that helps our spirit and defense,” he said.
On team growth, he added, “We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re trending up. This was a good test. That was a playoff team—big-time, talented, physical, built for the playoffs.”
The Cavaliers improve to 22-18, winning five of their last seven, with a Monday matchup against the Utah Jazz next, while Minnesota hosts San Antonio on Sunday.
