Cavaliers Top Timberwolves in Overtime Thriller

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-125 in overtime on Monday night. Donovan Mitchell provided the decisive scoring, finishing with 26 points, including five in the extra period. Anthony Edwards dropped 47 points for the home team, his highest output against Cleveland in his career.

The game swung wildly in the final minutes. Cleveland fell behind by 15 points in the second quarter. The Timberwolves held a 69-58 lead with 7:31 remaining in the first half. Cleveland then answered with 12 straight points. James Harden scored eight of those points to shift momentum back to the visitors.

Regulation ended with a dramatic finish. Harden tied the score at 113 with a seven-foot floater from the left corner with 10.4 seconds left. The lead changed hands 15 times in the final 21.5 minutes. Edwards hit a three-pointer to even the game at 121. Mitchell then sank a 19-foot fadeaway jumper with 48 seconds left to put Cleveland ahead for the last time.

Harden added two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 125-122. Sam Merrill fouled LaMelo Ball with 9.2 seconds left. Ball missed both free throws. Edwards grabbed the rebound but missed a wide-open three-pointer from the top of the key. Peyton Watson made both of his free throws with 3.9 seconds left to secure the win.

James Harden finished with 19 points. Evan Mobley added 18 points for Cleveland. The Cavaliers have now won their last four home games against Minnesota. Meleek Thomas, the 34th overall pick in the June NBA Draft, scored 16 points in his professional debut.

Edwards shot 19 of 33 from the floor. He made five of 15 three-point attempts. Jaden McDaniels scored 14 points before fouling out. Terrence Shannon Jr. contributed 14 points off the bench. This is the seventh game in Edwards' five-year career where he has scored at least 47 points.

The Timberwolves host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. The Cavaliers host the Washington Wizards the same evening.