On January 19, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 19-loss Timberwolves hosted the 34-win and 6-loss Cavaliers. The Cavaliers suffered a crushing defeat to the Thunder in their last game and were eager to make a strong comeback today. However, they were without Mobley and Okoro, two key players, significantly reducing their combat effectiveness. The Timberwolves were playing back-to-back games, having defeated the Knicks the day before, so they were not as physically fit as the Cavaliers. Additionally, DiVincenzo was absent, with both teams experiencing a loss in strength. Who would win this battle? The Timberwolves' starting lineup was Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Randle, and Gobert, while the Cavaliers' starting lineup was Garland, Mitchell, LeVert, Wade, and Allen.
In the first quarter, Mitchell scored a layup, followed by Edwards and Conley hitting two consecutive three-pointers, giving the Timberwolves a 6-2 lead. Mitchell and Allen also scored, to which McDaniels and Gobert responded, making it 10-6 for the Timberwolves. Garland made a floater, but Edwards and Conley added five points, extending the Timberwolves' lead to seven points, forcing a timeout. After the pause, Wade and Mitchell scored, while Randle and Edwards responded, keeping the gap at seven points. Garland hit a three-pointer and Allen made a layup, but Reid hit two three-pointers and Edwards added another three, putting the Timberwolves up by 11 points. Jerome, Niang, and Mitchell then went on an 8-0 run to reduce the deficit to three points. Gobert made one of two free throws, but Wade hit a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to one point. Reid made a layup, and the first quarter ended with the Timberwolves leading 32-29.
In the second quarter, Walker and Gobert scored, giving the Timberwolves a seven-point lead. However, Mitchell, Allen, and Jerome responded with a 9-0 run to take a two-point lead. After a timeout, Garland hit a three-pointer, putting the Cavaliers up by five points. Reid and McDaniels brought the Timberwolves back to level terms. Allen, Niang, and LeVert scored for the Cavaliers, but Gobert, McDaniels, and Randle responded, giving the Timberwolves a two-point lead. Mitchell then scored five points to put the Cavaliers up by three points. Randle and Gobert continued to score for the Timberwolves, but Allen, Mitchell, and Wade responded, leaving the Cavaliers with a two-point lead at halftime, with the score tied at 60-60.
In the third quarter, Mitchell and Garland started with a 5-0 run, but Edwards and Conley responded with five points to tie the game again. Allen and Mitchell extended the Cavaliers' lead to five points, but Gobert made an alley-oop dunk. Garland responded with a three-pointer, putting the Cavaliers up by six points. Randle and Edwards then went on a 7-0 run to take a one-point lead, but Garland, Strus, and Allen responded with an 8-0 run to go up by seven points. McDaniels scored five points, but Niang made two free throws and Jerome added six points, bringing the lead to ten points. The third quarter ended with the Cavaliers leading 89-79.
In the fourth quarter, Strus, Niang, and Jerome scored eight unanswered points to extend the lead to 18 points. After a timeout, Mitchell made a layup, increasing the lead to 20 points. Edwards then scored seven points, but Jerome and Garland responded, keeping the lead at 17 points. Dillinger and Edwards scored five points, but Niang responded with five points, maintaining the 17-point lead. Randle made a free throw and McDaniels hit a mid-range shot, but Garland scored five points in response, extending the lead to 19 points. Randle and Edwards continued to score for the Timberwolves, but Mitchell responded, keeping the lead at 18 points. Dillinger and Randle reduced the deficit to 14 points, but Mitchell made two free throws, keeping the lead at 16 points. Dillinger scored five points and Reid made a layup, reducing the gap to nine points with one minute left in the game. Garland made two free throws, leaving an 11-point difference. Dillinger and Randle scored four points after a timeout, reducing the gap to seven points. Mitchell made two free throws, Edwards made a layup, but Mitchell missed one of his two free throws. Reid hit a three-pointer, reducing the gap to five points. Garland made two more free throws, and the game ended with the Cavaliers defeating the Timberwolves 124-117, completing a comeback after trailing by 11 points in the first quarter. Dillinger scored 12 points in this quarter, setting a new career-high for points in a single quarter.
Mitchell scored 36 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists on 12-of-27 shooting, bouncing back strongly from his previous game where he scored only 8 points on 3-of-15 shooting. Garland scored 29 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists on 8-of-19 shooting. Jerome scored 15 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 5-of-7 shooting, with a +28 plus-minus that far surpassed others, becoming a key contributor to the victory. Niang scored 15 points with 10 rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting, becoming a surprise player and setting a new personal record for rebounds this season. Allen scored 14 points with 4 rebounds.
Edwards scored 28 points with 3 rebounds and 5 assists on 9-of-22 shooting. Randle scored 20 points with 14 rebounds and 9 assists on 7-of-12 shooting, performing outstandingly. Gobert scored 17 points with 12 rebounds, Reid scored 16 points with 2 rebounds and 4 assists, McDaniels scored 13 points with 5 rebounds, and Dillinger scored 12 points with 2 assists.
After winning this game, the Cavaliers remained firmly at the top of the league standings. The Timberwolves, after their loss, remained eighth in the Western Conference. Despite missing two key players in this game and being suppressed in the first quarter, the Cavaliers quickly adjusted and ultimately defeated the Timberwolves. Their performance in this game proves that their league-leading record is no fluke; they indeed possess top-level combat power. Although they suffered a crushing defeat to the Thunder in their previous game, based on their performance today, they will be highly competitive in the playoffs due to their rich playing style, strong adjustment capabilities, and multiple scoring options. They have the ability to challenge for the championship, changing the landscape of the league.