Cavs-Timberwolves: Starters, betting info, injuries and TV for Monday

Kevin Love (#0) and Cedi Osman (#16), Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports)
Kevin Love (#0) and Cedi Osman (#16), Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports)

It wasn’t pretty, but the Cleveland Cavaliers got off the snide in their last game, defeating the Washington Wizards 92-86. That snapped a three-game losing streak dating back to before the All-Star break.

For the Cavaliers, it’s less than ideal that Darius Garland and Caris LeVert are dealing with injuries, as Garland has been dealing with lower back soreness since early-to-mid January, and has a bone bruise there. For LeVert, he sprained his foot this past week, but could be back this week.

It doesn’t help that Rajon Rondo is going to be out for around a week-and-a-half from a right big toe sprain, along with those ailments. He is 36 though, so one shouldn’t be necessarily shocked.

Either way, the Cavs have to push forward, given the Eastern Conference standings are so tight.

With that, next up for Cleveland in the second of their current three-game home stand is a matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves, another up-and-coming team that’s made some noise this season.

Minnesota did get handled by the then-visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, but the Timberwolves are a team that can get going in a hurry. This should be an interesting contest.

The Cavs and Timberwolves will play for the second and final time this season on Monday. So what do you need to know, and how to bet?

The Wolves are a club that’s going to want to push pace here, where the likes of D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and company are so difficult to contain, and Minnesota is a club that its share of solid role players that can make a difference playing off its big guns. Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaden McDaniels come to mind, in that realm.

As far as the club overall, Minnesota has had nice wins of late, such as a comeback W over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, in what was the first leg of their last back-to-back, and they prevailed in overtime over the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 15.

As is the case with many young teams, though, they have had some off games due to defensive inconsistencies still, and even with the Cavs banged up, if they play through their bigs and are patient, they can grind out another victory here. This one should be another close contest if the Cavaliers are on-point, as they’re more than capable of being, but Garland will be out again.

Cavaliers-Timberwolves: Betting info

According to our partners at WynnBet, the Timberwolves are favored by 3.0 points over the Cavaliers.

The over/under total for both clubs is 218.5, with that mark set for 110.5 for Minnesota and 107.5 for Cleveland. The Twolves’ offensive rating this season is 111.5, and Cleveland’s is 109.8, for context.

Cavaliers-Timberwolves: Projected starters and injury report

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

Cavs starters: Brandon Goodwin, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Timberwolves injuries: McKinley Wright IV (out, elbow); Leandro Bolmaro (out, G League-On Assignment); Malik Beasley (probable, non-COVID-19-related illness).

Cavs injuries: Darius Garland (out, back); Caris LeVert (out, foot); Rajon Rondo (out, toe); Dylan Windler (out, G League-On Assignment); Collin Sexton (likely out for season, knee).

Cavs-Timberwolves: Prediction

This matchup between the Cavs and Timberwolves figures to have a much different look, as Cleveland beat Minnesota handily the first time these teams played, but Minnesota was without a number of key pieces. That was primarily because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

This go-round, without Garland and LeVert, and Rondo, to some degree, the Cavs I don’t believe have nearly the offensive production to get a W here.

The Timberwolves are another young club on the rise, and simply put, the difference in the backcourt outlook without Garland in there could be the difference. Russell has been playing very well, along with Edwards, and Beasley and McDaniels could be tough to handle for stretches, also.

Granted, with the way this Cavaliers team defends, I still expect them to hang around, and hopefully a more aggressive Mobley can help Cleveland here. But with Cleveland’s perimeter guys out, this type of game, especially if Minnesota gets out and runs, might be difficult to grind out; Kevin Love and Cedi Osman contributions would definitely help to do so, though.

That’s also with Towns’ stretch abilities, in addition to the potential perimeter disparity, anyhow. With the perimeter outlook, that especially makes me favor Minny here, by I’d think 6-9 points.

Prediction: Timberwolves 111, Cavs 103

The Bet: Timberwolves (-3), UNDER

 Cavaliers-Timberwolves: Where to watch

For fans subscribed in respective markets, this will be available via Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports North and Bally Sports Midwest.

For fans out of market and/or without those options in-market, those subscribed can see this one via NBA League Pass.

Cavs upcoming schedule:

After this Timberwolves game, the Cavaliers will have their last game of their current three-game home stand against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. The Wine and Gold will look to go to 3-1 on the season versus LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and company; the Cavs two Ws in Charlotte came down to the wire, though, from late Hornets runs.

Following that one, Cleveland will take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday for the second time this season; yes, only the second time so far for an Eastern Conference team. The Cavs were handled by Joel Embiid and Philly in the first meeting on Feb. 12, and this go-round, again on the road for Cleveland, James Harden will be in the lineup. That’ll be tough.

From there, the Cavs will take on Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors for the third time this year. Way back in early November, the Cavaliers found a way to win in a game Toronto should’ve won, and the Cavs won on two Darius Garland free throws near the end. Cleveland had a healthy Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio (whose expiring contract since been traded in the LeVert deal with the Indiana Pacers) back then, though. The second matchup the Cavs destroyed the Raptors, who were completely shorthanded due to COVID-19 issues.