The Timberwolves were one of the surprise teams in the league early in the season, getting off to an 8-8 start with victories at Atlanta, Chicago and Miami. The worst seemed to be over for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004. But now, the Wolves have joined the Lakers, Suns and Kings – all franchises experiencing turmoil – on the list of teams who have lost to Philadelphia.
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LOOK AHEAD
One day after Minnesota’s most embarrassing performance of the season, the reeling group gathered at their practice facility ready to get back to work. Only, they didn’t practice. Instead interim coach Sam Mitchell brought the team together for 90 minutes of talk and soul-searching. Lackluster efforts against struggling teams like the 76ers, Bucks and Nuggets, and a woeful record at Target Center, prompted the move. The Wolves went eight straight games without scoring 100 points, have seen their once-solid defense crumble and shoot three-pointers like teams did 20 years ago. More troubling, they have shown little energy. Whether the session will help solve some of the issues plaguing the team remains to be seen. The Wolves have a chance to improve on their 5-13 SU and 3-14-1 ATS record at Target Center during a four-game homestand that includes visits from Dallas and Oklahoma City after Friday’s encounter with the Cavaliers.
INJURIES
Mitchell said both Kevin Martin, who has not played in two weeks while the Wolves try to trade him, and Nikola Pekovic, who has not played this season after having offseason surgery on his Achilles, could return to the lineup this week.
Cavaliers reserve guard Joe Harris will have season-ending surgery to remove a bone in his foot. A second-round pick in 2014, he’s regressed in his sophomore season, partially because of the foot issue and also due to the Cavs addressing their depth concerns in the offseason, pushing Harris out of the rotation.
KEY MATCHUP
He’s back. And the Cavaliers couldn’t be happier. It’s one thing to be back on the court after six-months of rehabbing from knee surgery. It’s another to be on the court playing like the injury never occurred. In his sixth game since returning to the Cavs’ lineup, point guard Kyrie Irving broke out, prompting teammate and draft-class partner Tristan Thompson to utter those definitive two words; “He’s back.” Irving’s masterful night against Toronto included 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds and just one turnover. There were spin moves and Eurosteps. Floating layups and pull-up threes. No-look assists and crossover dribbles. And he did it all in just 29 minutes of action. The question remains with Irving heading into the Cavs’ six-game road trip, their longest of the season, whether his last performance would guarantee his steady climb or if he’ll have some setbacks along the way. Against the Raptors he broke out his entire bag of tricks, passing the confidence test.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
If you want to win a championship, you’d better learn how to bring it on the road. That’s something LeBron James and the Cavaliers know after last season’s run to the Finals. The Cavs will get an opportunity to come together in arenas that don’t go by The Q. It’s an interesting time for the Cavs. They’re 15-1 at home and just a .500 club on the road and will play six of their next seven games on the road. They face former overall No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins on Friday; the same Wiggins who was shipped to the Wolves in the trade for Kevin Love. Wiggins admittedly gets fired up to play the Cavs and Love wasn’t exactly cheered in his first return to Minnesota. Wiggins and his gang just aren’t in the same class as Irving and Cavs, who will have a motivated Love.
Cleveland 102, Minnesota 94
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Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves will take place Friday, January 8, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET at the Target Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
