Minnesota vs. Cleveland
CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Minnesota Timberwolves will put a 3-0 record on the line Monday when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Cleveland is 1-1 early in the season.
Minnesota has opened with three double-digit wins, including a 117-94 home victory over Toronto in its most recent game. LaMelo Ball had 15 points and eight assists in that win, Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and Jaden McDaniels added 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks. The Timberwolves also have road wins at Orlando and Miami, winning 115-93 and 131-106, respectively. Minnesota has scored at least 115 points in every game and has held each of its first three opponents under 100.
McDaniels is a player to watch for Minnesota. In his past three games, he has scored 14, 15 and 17 points while adding six rebounds in each of the first two contests and eight rebounds in the Miami win. He played 31 minutes against Toronto, 30 at Orlando and 28 at Miami, and he also blocked three shots against Toronto and two at Orlando. McDaniels has reached double figures in scoring in all three games.
Cleveland will counter with Evan Mobley, who has been productive in the early going. Mobley had 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the Cavaliers’ 125-121 home win over Brooklyn in their most recent game. Jarrett Allen added 21 points and eight rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points. Mobley also finished with 18 points and eight rebounds in a 114-106 loss at Philadelphia. Cleveland will look to build on its high-scoring home win after splitting its first two games. The Cavaliers allowed 121 points to Brooklyn and 114 at Philadelphia.
Minnesota’s upcoming schedule includes home games against Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers before a road matchup at San Antonio, followed by a home game against Milwaukee and a trip to Houston. Cleveland is set to host Washington before visiting Atlanta and Milwaukee, then hosting Oklahoma City and Philadelphia and traveling to Oklahoma City, New York, Charlotte, New York again and Miami.
Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Minnesota 110, Cleveland 108. Interstat’s ELO system gives Cleveland a 53.3 percent probability to win. Cleveland has been installed as the pregame favorite with a spread of minus 3.5, and the over/under is 232.5.