Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Late rally falls short-Cavaliers lose to Minnesota

     An injury-plagued Cleveland Cavalier team allowed the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves to build a huge lead of twenty-three points in the third quarter before a furious comeback allowed Cedi Osman's three-pointer to tie the game with under thirty-four seconds remaining in the contest.

However, Karl-Anthony Towns popped in a three-pointer on the following possession to give the visiting Timberwolves a 127-122 victory.

Kevin Love and Cedi Osman led Cleveland in scoring from the bench with 26 and 21 points, while Jarrett Allen added 21 points and Evan Mobley (15 pts 10 rebounds) and Brandon Goodwin (17 points 12 assists) each contributed double-doubles for the evening.

Cleveland will host Charlotte Wednesday night in the final of their three games at home.

Swashbucklings

1) The incredible comeback that fell just short shows just how much fun this Cavaliers team has been to watch this season.

They are never out of a game, they always try to keep coming forward no matter the deficit, and go to show the old adage that hustle never takes a night off is an apt one.

2) The Cavaliers played this game without Rajan Rondo to add to the missing Darius Garland and Caris LeVert and the backcourt depth is stretched to its max.

I am not sure playing Brandon Goodwin thirty-five minutes a night is viable long-term and unless the Cavaliers want to sign an out-of-work free agent that may have to get into shape, there is no one available to help out until players recover.

3) Kevin Love was the key in the comeback with five three-pointers (ten attempts) and Love scored eighteen of his twenty-six points in the second half.

4) Cleveland signed well-traveled veteran Tim Frazier before the game and Frazier hit his only shot in four minutes of action.

5) Cedi Osman's three-pointer that tied the game brought the crowd down with noise that was deafening that came through even to the television viewer.

Osman's evening off the bench was an excellent one but I admit to wincing a little when the injuries in the backcourt have resulted in Osman bringing the ball upcourt and handling the ball so much under pressure.

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