Cavaliers beat Timberwolves 127-125 in overtime despite 47 from Anthony Edwards as rookie Meleek Thomas sparks rally

Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, including five in overtime, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-125 at Rocket Arena on Monday (US time; tip-off 11pm GMT Monday 26 October) despite 47 points from Anthony Edwards, according to AP. Minnesota, who had won their first three games, are 3-1; the Cavaliers are 2-1.

Edwards made 19 of 34 shots, including 5 of 15 three-pointers, according to the ESPN box score. AP said it was the seventh time in his career he had scored at least 47 points in a game, and the most he has scored against Cleveland.

Score by quarter (ESPN): Timberwolves 31-29-26-27-12, Cavaliers 24-26-36-27-14.

Rookie debut

Meleek Thomas, the 34th pick in June’s draft, scored 16 points in 19 minutes in his NBA debut after not playing in Cleveland’s first two games, AP reported. He came on with 5:53 left in the first quarter and had 10 points at half-time, when Cleveland trailed 60-50. AP said it was the second-highest debut total by a Cavaliers rookie off the bench, after Brevin Knight’s 18 in 1997.

“It was on my mind I was going to be on my best version. Have a great showing, stand out and make sure people leaving the gym know my name,” Thomas said, according to AP.

“For him to be the spark in his first game of the year is not normal,” Mitchell said. “He made some mistakes but they were aggressive. He was fearless and trying to impact the game.” Coach Kenny Atkinson said he had used Thomas because the Cavaliers needed a third ball-handler to take pressure off Mitchell and James Harden, AP reported.

Late swings

Minnesota led by 15 in the second quarter, AP said. After the Timberwolves went 69-58 up in the second half, Cleveland scored 12 straight points, eight of them by Harden, and won the third quarter 36-26. AP counted 15 lead changes and five ties in the last 21 and a half minutes.

Harden tied the game at 113 with a floater from the left corner with 10.4 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, Edwards made a three-pointer to tie it at 121 before Mitchell’s 19-foot fadeaway with 48 seconds left gave Cleveland the lead for good, according to AP. Harden made two free throws with 13 seconds left for 125-122; Sam Merrill then fouled LaMelo Ball, who missed both free throws, and Edwards missed an open three-pointer from the top of the key. Peyton Watson’s two free throws with 3.9 seconds left sealed it, AP said, and the ESPN play-by-play shows Edwards made a 28-foot three at the buzzer.

Harden finished with 19 points and nine assists, and Evan Mobley had 18 points and 10 rebounds and made 4 of 5 three-pointers, according to ESPN. For Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels scored 14 before fouling out and Terrence Shannon Jr. had 14 off the bench, AP said. Rudy Gobert had 20 rebounds and five points, and Ball had 11 points and seven turnovers, according to the box score. AP said Cleveland have won their last four home games against Minnesota.

The Timberwolves host Golden State on Wednesday and the Cavaliers host Washington on Wednesday (US time), according to AP.

See also: Anthony Edwards scores 45 as Timberwolves beat Heat and 76ers come back from 29 down to beat Cavaliers. Our reports on the night’s other headline games: Warriors beat Nuggets 134-114 and Thunder beat Suns 125-114.

Other NBA results

All other results from Monday 26 October (US time), according to ESPN box scores and AP reports. No game was postponed.

• Charlotte Hornets 110, Washington Wizards 103: Brandon Miller scored a career-high 39 points, 27 of them in the middle two quarters, as Charlotte went 3-1, AP said. The Hornets led 98-84 with 5:15 left before the Wizards made five three-pointers late to get within 103-100 with 1:13 to play; Miller’s last three points made it 106-100 with 38.3 seconds left. Naz Reid had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Moussa Diabate 11 points and 17 rebounds. Anthony Davis scored 29 with 10 rebounds and Trae Young 22 with 10 assists for Washington (2-2), and AP said Justin Champagnie hurt his right foot in the first quarter and did not return. Highlights (NBA on YouTube).
• Boston Celtics 134, Chicago Bulls 99: Payton Pritchard scored 28 off the bench, making 7 of 10 three-pointers, and AP said he made all five of his three-point attempts and scored 19 points in the third quarter, which Boston won 39-21. Jayson Tatum had 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Paul George 16 as the Celtics (2-1) never trailed and led by as many as 40. Norman Powell scored 20 for Chicago (1-3), who made 12 of 44 three-pointers. Highlights (NBA on YouTube).
• Dallas Mavericks 113, Miami Heat 109: Cooper Flagg had 29 points, 11 assists, five steals and three blocks, and AP said his block of an Andrew Wiggins three-point attempt in the final moments stopped Miami taking the lead. P.J. Washington scored 20, Kyrie Irving 18 and Walter Clayton Jr. 15 for Dallas (2-2). Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, according to the ESPN box score, his first triple-double for the Heat, AP said. Miami made 14 of 25 free throws and are 0-4 for the first time since 2008-09. “He’s a heck of a coach,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Dallas coach Dusty May, according to AP. Highlights (NBA on YouTube).
• Milwaukee Bucks 110, Indiana Pacers 102: Tyler Herro had 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Milwaukee won for the first time this season and avoided their first 0-4 start since 1976-77, AP said. Ryan Rollins scored 19, Kyle Kuzma 17 and Kel’el Ware 16 with 14 rebounds. AP said Nate Ament’s dunk broke an 86-86 tie with 10:08 left and put the Bucks ahead for good. Tyrese Haliburton scored 22 with nine assists and Pascal Siakam had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana (2-2), who were without Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), T.J. McConnell, Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard. AP said the arena was less than a third full as the Milwaukee Brewers played Game 3 of the World Series at the same time; ESPN lists attendance of 10,674. Highlights (NBA on YouTube).
• Houston Rockets 120, Atlanta Hawks 110: Alperen Sengun had 29 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and six steals as Houston went 4-0, two days after also beating Atlanta 121-114 away, AP said. After the Hawks cut the lead to 95-93 early in the fourth quarter, a 14-0 Houston run that included three-pointers from Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason made it 109-93. Kevin Durant scored 22 and Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Jalen Johnson scored 21 and CJ McCollum 20 for Atlanta (2-2). Coach Ime Udoka said Marcus Smart could return in the next game and Steven Adams would be out at least another week, AP reported. Highlights (NBA on YouTube).
• Memphis Grizzlies 110, Utah Jazz 105: Cedric Coward had 16 points and 11 rebounds, making all four of his three-point attempts, as Memphis stayed unbeaten at 4-0. Ty Jerome, who AP said entered the night leading the NBA in scoring, was held to 15 points on 4-of-15 shooting but had eight assists; Jaylen Wells scored 14 and Cameron Boozer and Jerami Grant 13 each. Keyonte George led Utah (1-3) with 26 points, Ace Bailey had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Mo Bamba 14 in his season debut. AP said Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. were both injured in the first half and did not return; Utah got within one point twice in the final four minutes. Highlights (NBA on YouTube).