NBA: Timberwolves survive Cavaliers comeback as Towns drills game-winner

Karl-Anthony Towns knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds on Monday as the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 127-122 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Minnesota led by 23 points in the third quarter but narrowly escaped after allowing Cleveland to comeback in the fourth quarter. D’Angelo Russell scored a team-high 25 points on 4/8 from beyond the arc including a clutch steal and score to extend the Timberwolves lead. Towns didn't have his best performance, finishing with 17 points and four rebounds, but he made the one that mattered most.

Cleveland led 37-26 but then Minnesota exploded for 75 points in the second and third quarter to take a 13-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Following halftime, the Timberwolves went on a 26-7 run to open up a 98-75 lead with 2:44 left in the third period. Kevin Love kept the Cavaliers in it with a personal 7-0 run after Minnesota went up 20 points. Love finished with a game-high 26 points on 5/10 from 3-point range, highlighted by a fastbreak triple to cap a Cavaliers scoring run. Jarrett Allen totaled 21 points and eight rebounds on 9/10 from the field in the loss.

Cedi Osman was also instrumental in Cleveland's comeback, finishing with 21 points on 5/9 from distance. After leaving in the first half due to a lower body injury, Osman returned and later hit the game-tying 3-pointer following a frantic tie up and ensuing jump ball with 33.9 seconds remaining. On the next possession, Towns drilled the game-winning shot at the top of the key with just 11.8 seconds left. Osman missed another game-tying attempt before Russell sealed the win with a pair of free throws. Isaac Okoro was mostly quiet but his one field goal was a clutch triple to bring the Cavs within two points late.

Anthony Edwards had a few notable scoring bursts and finished with 17 points and four steals. Jaden McDaniels made a career-high five 3-pointers, while Jarred Vanderbilt had eight points and 10 rebounds to go along with a couple beautiful cuts for dunks in the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley had 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers lost at home for the first time since early January. Darius Garland was out with a back injury but he was warming up prior to tip-off and looked relatively mobile on the sideline. Minnesota improved to 33-29 with the thrilling victory in Cleveland.

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Photo Credit: Associated Press.