MN Make a Run, but Fall Short in OT, 127- 125 L

Cleveland, 10.26.26- Minnesota finally caught an L, but nobody should leave Cleveland hanging their head. The Wolves erased punches, traded buckets and pushed the Cavaliers deep into overtime before falling 127-125. At 3-1, this was not a collapse. It was a high-volume stress test and the offense showed it can get loud under pressure.

Anthony Edwards brought the main-stage electricity: 47 points on 19-for-34 shooting, with five triples, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Ant scored 11 in overtime and kept calling for the rock when the arena got tight. His tying three made it 121-all before Cleveland answered.

Minnesota scored 125, shot 48 percent and owned the paint 60-44. Jaden McDaniels added 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting before fouling out. Terrence Shannon Jr. delivered 14 points and five assists off the bench, while Joan Beringer went a perfect 6-for-6 for 12 points and seven boards. Jonathan Kuminga posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Run Made, Run Answered

The Wolves built a 15-point first-half lead and carried a 60-50 advantage into halftime. Then came the early-season cohesion check. Cleveland ripped off a 36-26 third quarter, Minnesota’s ball movement flattened, and the game became Ant versus everybody. LaMelo Ball finished with 11 points and six assists, but seven turnovers and two missed late free throws exposed the timing still being built between the new floor general, Edwards and the starting five.

Still, the response was grown-man basketball. Cleveland led by seven in the fourth; Minnesota clawed back. James Harden’s floater tied it at 113 with 10.4 seconds left, and Peyton Watson’s block on Edwards forced overtime. In the extra frame, Edwards dropped 11, including the bomb that tied it at 121. Donovan Mitchell then buried a 19-foot fadeaway with 48 seconds left. One final clean Ant look rimmed out, and Watson iced it at the line. 

Cleveland's Counterpunch

Donovan Mitchell paced Cleveland with 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds, drilling five threes and the decisive overtime jumper. James Harden supplied 19 points, nine assists and the tying fourth-quarter floater. Evan Mobley posted 18 points, 10 boards and four triples. Rookie Meleek Thomas splashed four threes for 16 in his debut. Peyton Watson added 15 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and the sealing free throws, while Jarrett Allen chipped in 10 and nine.

Coach Finch Reaction

Chris Finch’s message should land without drama: applaud the fight, clean up the execution. Minnesota competed on tired legs, but 17 turnovers, missed free throws and stagnant possessions opened Cleveland’s door. The encouraging part is obvious, this group stayed connected enough to answer every run. Now the reads, spacing and late-game trust must sharpen.

What the First Loss Really Says

If you have to lose, lose like this: on the road, on a back-to-back, against elite shot-makers, with your superstar swinging until the buzzer. The 3-0 start raised questions about whether this new crew was truly synced. At 3-1, the answer is promising, not finished. Edwards can carry the marquee, Ball can bend defenses and the bench has real juice. The next step is turning five talented starters into one five-man rhythm.

VyD Prediction- Warriors

Golden State visits Wednesday, and Minnesota should come home annoyed. Expect cleaner pace, fewer empty trips and another aggressive Edwards night, but with Ball feeding Gobert earlier and Shannon keeping the second unit humming.

Prediction: Timberwolves 122, Warriors 116. The first loss becomes film, not baggage.