Cavs need more than a fast start against unbeaten Timberwolves

October 26, 2026

The Cavs have shown they can build a big lead. Tonight would be a good time to show they know what to do with one.

The unbeaten Timberwolves visit Rocket Arena for a 7 p.m. tip, bringing a 3-0 record and a new point guard in LaMelo Ball. Anthony Edwards is questionable with right knee injury maintenance, according to Marc Stein.

With or without Edwards, this probably isn’t an opponent the Cavs want to invite back into a game.

Cleveland is 1-1 after blowing a 29-point lead against the Sixers, then nearly surrendering a 22-point advantage in Saturday’s 125-121 win over the Nets. There’s been plenty of good basketball. The endings have required considerably more patience.

As Donovan Mitchell acknowledged afterward, the Cavs got away with some things against a young Brooklyn team. Minnesota figures to be less forgiving.

Ball has already supplied a different dimension in his first season with the Wolves. He finished with 15 points, eight assists and two steals against the Raptors on Sunday despite foul trouble limiting him to fewer than 17 minutes. Minnesota outscored Toronto by 33 while he played, as Hoops Wire covered in our NBA notebook.

Give him turnovers and a scrambling defense, and he’ll find somebody. The Cavs would prefer that somebody isn’t celebrating an uncontested dunk.

Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen all reached 20 points against Brooklyn, while Jaylon Tyson added 15 off the bench. That balance is encouraging. Eight fourth-quarter turnovers and nine Nets threes were considerably less so.

Minnesota is playing the second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland had Sunday off and gets another game at home. Those are advantages worth using, regardless of Edwards’ availability.

Nobody needs perfection in game No. 3. But if the Cavs get control of this one, keeping it would make for a welcome change.