Building large leads hasn’t been a problem for the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first two games. Keeping them, however, is another story.
Cleveland hosts the unbeaten Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, giving it an opportunity to make a better impression on their understandably unnerved fans.
Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points as the Cavaliers went up by 22 before holding on for a 125-121 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. Cleveland didn’t trail after the first quarter in its home opener, but allowed the Nets to pull within two in the closing seconds.
Two nights earlier, the Cavaliers blew a 29-point lead in a 114-106 season-opening loss at the Philadelphia 76ers in the home debuts of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.
“No disrespect to Brooklyn, but it’s not Philly, you know what I mean?” Mitchell said. “There are certain things that we were able to get away with because they’re young and they’re still figuring themselves out.
“It sucks that’s the way it’s been the first two games, but it’s something to clean up, something to work on. … It builds character, too. You find out what you’re made of.”
Mitchell, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen have shined thus far, combining to average 63.5 points, 24.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots. They’re also shooting a blistering 58.4% from the field.
“Part of this is we’re not in elite condition right now, which is kind of normal,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It’s the second game. Getting in a rhythm, we’re not there.”
Like Philadelphia, the Timberwolves are a legitimate NBA title contender with Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and longtime Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball in the fold. They have opened the season with three straight wins for the first time in seven years.
Minnesota arrived in Cleveland after winning its 11th consecutive home opener, 117-94 over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. Edwards scored a game-high 26 points, and Gobert had eight points and led all players with 13 rebounds.
“We’re pretty much just being us, following the game plan. The coaches make it easy and we just follow them,” said Ball, who is averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 assists on the young season.
Foul trouble limited Ball to 15 points and eight assists in 17 minutes Sunday, so he should be fresh for the second half of the Timberwolves’ first back-to-back of the season. Minnesota outscored Toronto by 33 points with him on the court.
“I just love being here and love doing what I do, playing basketball,” Ball said. “Minnesota is amazing, so we’re going to keep going.”
Gobert and Jaden McDaniels were the lone Timberwolves to play more than 28 minutes against Toronto at 31 apiece. Minnesota blew the game open with a 35-15 third quarter, taking advantage of the Raptors being without star Kawhi Leonard, who was sidelined with knee swelling.
The Timberwolves were tremendous defensively, keeping Toronto’s Scottie Barnes scoreless on 0-of-12 field-goal attempts in 28 minutes. Gobert held starting center Jakob Poeltl to zero points and one rebound.
“Our ball contain continues to be strong and our fly-around is really good,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “We’re kind of stuffing up the paint a little bit, and we did a good job getting out and contesting (3-pointers).”
