Cavs vs. Timberwolves: Starters, odds, injury report and TV channel

After a tough back-to-back on Sunday and Monday versus the Utah Jazz and at the Milwaukee Bucks, which resulted in a 109-108 loss versus Utah and a 112-104 L to Milwaukee, the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded with a 115-92 win on Wednesday over the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls were missing several players in that one, though, because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols, with DeMar DeRozan being the most notable. Javonte Green was a noteworthy one as well, and Alex Caruso was out due to a hamstring injury. I’m not discounting those absences, but the Cavaliers got the job done, and it’s not as if they haven’t had a bunch of injuries already themselves.

Looking past that one, next up for the Cavs is a road game at the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have started off fairly similarly to Cleveland as a surprise team early on. Minnesota has started out at 11-14, and is currently ninth in the Western Conference.

So what do you have to know about this Cavs-Timberwolves matchup, and how to bet?

The Cavaliers had that brutal Sunday-Monday slate against Utah and Milwaukee, and all things considered, even with those being losses, it was encouraging. That Bucks loss was Cleveland’s third game in four nights, and I’m okay with that maybe having been a schedule loss. The Bulls game was a nice way for the Cavs to get themselves right again, seemingly, too.

In Minnesota’s case, they were blown out by Utah on Wednesday at home and lost at home to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. They lost two close ones prior to that at the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, but had won three of four before this losing streak, and as we noted, the Timberwolves have started out probably better than most had imagined. And in their last games, D’Angelo Russell was out, as a side note, in relation to ankle soreness.

For the season more generally though, D’Angelo Russell looks to be back, if you will, Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the game’s best bigs, and Anthony Edwards seems to be turning a corner. Naz Reid is a quality bench big for Minnesota to have in spurts too that the Cavaliers need to account for in his minutes.

So where are the current odds, and what are the key injuries heading into this contest for both squads?

Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves: Odds, spread and over/under

According to our partners at WynnBet, the Cavaliers are favored by 1.0 over the Timberwolves in this contest. That’s not surprising to me, given how Cleveland has been playing lately, and Minnesota sliding a bit, partly due to injury; this is not usual territory for the oft-underdog Cavs, either way. That’s not to say I don’t think the Cavs can win this one.

As far as the over/under, that’s currently set at 213.5, which is not shocking, as the average point total, as of heading into Cleveland’s W against Chicago, has been 212 this season. And regarding both teams, this over/under is understandable here, as even with an uptick recently, Cleveland’s offensive rating this season is 107.7, with Minnesota’s at 106.4. Furthermore, the over/under individually for both is at 107.5 for Cleveland and 105.5 for Minnesota.

Cavs vs. Timberwolves: Projected starting lineups, injury report

Timberwolves starters: Patrick Beverley/D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Taurean Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt, Karl-Anthony Towns

Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Timberwolves’ key injuries: D’Angelo Russell (questionable, ankle); Jaylen Nowell (out, back).

Cavs’ key injuries: Collin Sexton (out for season, knee).

Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves: Prediction

In this matchup, the status of Russell will be a crucial part of the outlook, as he is questionable with ankle soreness, and he’s obviously a key player for Minnesota whose presence can help free up Edwards more. Russell is not nearly 100 percent either way, but that’s one aspect that will play into how Minnesota does, as opposed to Beverley, who had been dealing with an adductor injury himself, however, was active versus Utah.

Either way, for Cleveland, Towns is the focal point defensively, and with his stretch big and passing qualities, it will be intriguing to see how Allen, who has been playing outstanding basketball and is one of the game’s emerging rim protectors, does against that.

Offensively, I’d look for Darius Garland, who had 24 points and six points versus Chicago, to keep it rolling and off the bench, former Minnesota playmaker Ricky Rubio I’d imagine will be up for this matchup. And I’d expect to see the two-man game between Rubio and fellow former Minnesota teammate Kevin Love, who has been heating up, to give Cleveland a spark potentially, too, to counter the likes of Malik Beasley for the Timberwolves.

In this one, with Russell and Beverley not 100 percent though, and with the Cavaliers getting healthier, I do think the Cavs grind this one out, and play their style, while getting to the free throw line often.

Prediction: Cavs 113, Timberwolves 104

The Bet: Cavs (-1.0), OVER

Cavs vs. Timberwolves: Where to watch

This is a matchup of two relatively small market teams in the Cavs and Twolves, so fans will be able to tune in via Bally Sports Ohio in that respective market. From those in Minnesota/Wisconsin or potentially other parts of the Midwest, they should be able to tune in via Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports North or Bally Sports Wisconsin.

The rest in other markets/subscribed can watch via NBA League Pass. This one is set to get started at 8 PM EST.

Cavaliers upcoming schedule

After this contest against Minnesota, the Cavaliers will get on a flight quickly back to Cleveland, where on Saturday they’ll take on the Sacramento Kings at home in the second leg of a back-to-back. That’s the second back-to-back for them of the week, and will be their fifth game in a seven-day span, so that won’t be easy.

Sacramento has had coaching change already this season, as Luke Walton was fired, but they have their share of backcourt firepower, and will be looking to run early and often. The Cavs will need to dominate the paint in that one.

Looking past that Sacramento game, the Cavaliers will have two more home games on Monday and Wednesday against the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets, the former of whom will have Jimmy Butler this time around; he wasn’t involved in their first meeting in Miami. And though they are a rebuilding squad, the Rockets are looking like a galvanized bunch lately, having won their past six contests. That’s even without highly-touted #2 overall pick Jalen Green recently, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury the past six games.