CLEVELAND, OH — The shorthanded Cavaliers rallied, but it wasn’t enough to take down the Timberwolves on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
Minnesota outscored Cleveland 22-6 down the stretch to pick up the 118-103 win.
Cleveland erased a 25-point second half deficit, but it was too little too late.
Dante Exum brought the spark the Cavs needed to get back into the game. He scored a career-high 28 points and made 11-of-13 shots from the field.
They went on a 32-6 run that was capped off by back-to-back Exum 3-pointers that gave the Cavaliers a 97-96 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Timberwolves answered with 14 straight points to take command of the game and get the win.
Ante Zizic played well for the Cavs. He finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Exum and Zizic were bright spots. The Cavaliers were playing without Kevin Love (rest), Tristan Thompson (illness) and Larry Nance Jr. (knee).
The Cavs fall to 10-26 this season. They’ve lost three straight games.
Scary Moment
Kevin Porter Jr. exited Sunday’s game in the third quarter after suffering a left knee injury. His knee buckled underneath him and he collapsed to the floor.
Porter was on the court for several minutes before he was helped to the locker room by head trainer Steve Spiro. He didn’t return to the game.
Up Next
The Cavaliers host the Pistons on Tuesday, January 7 at 7 p.m.
