For the second time in three days, the Timberwolves’ offense exploded against the Cavaliers.

But unlike Thursday in Minneapolis, the Cavaliers returned the favor on the other end in Cleveland on Saturday.

Cleveland scored 83 points in the second half to down Minnesota, 146-134, in the matinee, halting the Wolves’ win streak at four games. The 146 points are the most Minnesota has allowed in a game this season.

Minnesota recorded just three stops over the first eight minutes of a final frame in which Cleveland’s lead grew to as big as 17 points. The Cavaliers scored 38 points in that span — a 222-point full-game pace.

The Wolves’ offense continues to roll. It’s what had Minnesota up by two points at the break despite surrendering 63 points over the first two frames. Minnesota shot 57% from the field while making 16 triples.

But the offensive excellence was cancelled out by Cleveland’s near identical success going the other way. The Cavaliers shot 60% from the field and made 15 3-pointers.

The Cavaliers had six players score 16-plus points, including 20-plus for five guys. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 28 points and eight assists, while Sam Merrill went 5 for 6 from distance and Jarrett Allen tallied 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Cleveland shot 70% from the floor in the second half and 63% from distance.

Minnesota (25-14) entered Saturday’s affair with the fifth-best defense in the NBA, but Cleveland’s spacing and shooting gave the Wolves fits last season, and the Cavaliers (22-18) do seem to be slowly creeping toward the level of play that earned them the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs a season ago.

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists, but all three of those helpers came early, and Edwards was inefficient from the field.

The Wolves’ starters, who’ve been so good as a unit of late, were wiped off the floor, with the Cavaliers winning Julius Randle’s 31 minutes by 20 points after Randle led Minnesota in plus-minus two days earlier.

Cleveland pulled away in the third in part because of its own offense, but the Wolves also became disconnected as a whole during that span. Minnesota devolved into isolation basketball that resulted in just four assists in the frame. The lack of movement impacted effort on both ends.

It was the opposite of the brand of basketball that made Minnesota so successful over the previous four wins.

Naz Reid had 25 points on 9 for 12 shooting for the Wolves off the bench.

Mike Conley sat for rest purposes. The Wolves have lost the last two games the veteran has sat versus Brooklyn and now Cleveland. Joe Ingles saw brief second-quarter action in Conley’s absence, and Bones Hyland played 20 minutes, tallying 12 points and seven assists.

Minnesota is back in action Sunday, when it hosts San Antonio in a big game between presumptive Western Conference playoff teams who are in firm contention for top-four seeds and home-court advantage in Round 1 of the postseason and beyond.

Despite playing Saturday, the Wolves will have a rest advantage in that contest, as the Spurs played Saturday evening in Boston.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, left, fouls Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Related Articles

How the Timberwolves found their focus, and hit their stride

Timberwolves offense explodes in win over Cleveland

Frederick: Anthony Edwards is doing it all for the Timberwolves

‘A championship team’: Timberwolves dominant again in win over Miami

Anthony Edwards scores 35 points as Timberwolves rip Wizards, 141-115