MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER: Derrick Rose #25 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Minnesota Timberwolves will look to win a third consecutive game as they head to Cleveland to take on the improving Cavaliers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers visited Target Center in Minneapolis back on Oct. 19. In the five weeks since then, each team has taken on a decidedly different look.
The season opener showcased the dysfunction of the Minnesota Timberwolves for all the world to see, as the night began with vociferous boos in pregame warm-ups and early in the game, directed at the egocentric Jimmy Butler.
By the end of the game, the crowd was engaging in “MVP” chants as Butler scored 33 points and led the Wolves to an eight-point win.
The Cavaliers were led in scoring by Kevin Love, who was injured the following week and will remain out for a few more weeks.
Cleveland started the season with six straight losses before head coach Tyronne Lue was fired. Ultimately, the season started with a 1-11 mark, but the Cavs are 3-3 in their last six including consecutive wins against likely playoff teams in Philadelphia and Houston.
They’ve been relying largely on rookie guard Collin Sexton, who has shot 24-of-39 en route to 52 points over the last two games. Jordan Clarkson has been strong off the bench, too, scoring 19 or more points in each of the Cavs’ last three contests.
Minnesota is 5-2 since trading Butler to the 76ers and after dropping home games to Memphis and Denver last week won their first road game of the season in Brooklyn on Friday and returned home to beat the lowly Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
The Wolves are just 1-8 on the road so far this season while the Cavs are 3-8 at home.
Let’s take a look at what to watch out for on Monday evening in Cleveland as the Wolves look to inch closer to the playoff picture in the topsy-turvy Western Conference.