Cavs start small, stumble early in loss to Timberwolves

It started with a head-scratcher and ended with a familiar result.

The Cavaliers fell to the host Timberwolves, 131-122, on Thursday, a game that swung hard in two short stretches and never quite came back. By the time the Cavs found their footing, the damage had already been done.

This was the Cavs’ 21st different starting lineup of the season, and this one came with some risk. With Dean Wade out because of a knee issue, coach Kenny Atkinson went with Craig Porter Jr. alongside the usual core against a Minnesota team that starts Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels.

The thinking wasn’t hard to follow. Atkinson has been trying to stabilize second-quarter rotations, an area that’s consistently hurt the Cavs, and starting Porter allowed him to stagger the guards more cleanly.

The opening minutes, though, were rough.

Minnesota scored on its first seven possessions and jumped out to a nine-point lead in less than five minutes. The Cavs (21-18) struggled to match the Timberwolves’ size and physicality, and the tone was set early.

Once the rotations settled, the Cavs actually looked like themselves. From the middle of the first quarter through halftime, Cleveland played some of its best basketball in weeks. De’Andre Hunter, Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson all gave solid minutes, the ball moved, and the Cavs were able to string together stops. They won the final 19 minutes of the half by 13 points and went into the break up four.

Then came the third quarter.

The Timberwolves (25-13) opened with nine unanswered points, flipped the game back in their favor and never let go. Minnesota won the quarter by 21, using that burst to create the separation it needed.

The Cavs didn’t quit. They cut the lead to four late in the fourth quarter and made things uncomfortable, but the hole was simply too deep. You don’t often survive when you spot a team runs to open both halves.

The starters were outscored by 19 points in just under 10 minutes together. In the other 38-plus minutes, the Cavs actually won.

Donovan Mitchell led the way with 30 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Evan Mobley had 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and Darius Garland added 16 points and eight assists.

There were encouraging stretches, and there were reminders of how thin the margin is right now. Until the Cavs are fully healthy or add another dependable rotation piece, these nights are probably going to keep happening.

They’ll see Minnesota again Saturday afternoon in Cleveland. More adjustments will be required.