Timberwolves top Cavaliers
Robert Covington scored 24 points, KarlAnthony Towns added 21 and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Cavaliers 102-95 on Monday night in Cleveland.
Minnesota is 6-2 since trading disgruntled star Jimmy Butler to Philadelphia two weeks ago and 10-11 overall.
Derrick Rose came off the bench to score 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter. Towns hit two baskets in the final two minutes, including a fadeaway jumper on the baseline, after Cleveland cut the lead to 91-86.
Cleveland beat Philadelphia and Houston last week for its first back-to-back wins of the season, but couldn’t make it three straight.
Kyle Korver scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers for Cleveland. Rodney Hood added 20 points while Tristan Thompson Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson, left, and Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns battle for a loose ball during Monday’s game.
had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Timberwolves led 75-71 heading into the final period after the Cavaliers cut into a 12-point deficit. Rose hit three baskets and assisted on Covington’s 3-pointer, pushing the lead to 86-74 with 8:26 to play.
Cleveland rallied again and cut the lead to 88-84 with five minutes to play, but Rose scored in the lane and Towns
hit his two big baskets.
Minnesota led 69-57 midway through the third quarter. Cleveland finished with a spurt that included a 3-pointer by Cedi Osman and rookie Collin Sexton’s threepoint play.
Tristan Thompson had 10 points in the first quarter, helping Cleveland take a 29-24 lead, but Minnesota took control late in the period. HORNETS 110, BUCKS 107: Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb each had 21 points, and Charlotte held on to beat Milwaukee after nearly squandering a 25-point, third-quarter lead. The Bucks nearly came all the way back, cutting the lead to one with 17 seconds left on a layup by Giannis Antetokounmpo, but failed to get over the hump. CELTICS 124, PELICANS 107: Kyrie Irving closed out a 26-point, 10-assist performance with a 3-pointer and a tough baseline fade over Anthony Davis, and Boston pulled away late to beat New Orleans. Davis finished with 27 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. WIZARDS 135, ROCKETS 131, OT: John Wall scored a season-high 36 points, including six in overtime, and Washington overcame James Harden’s 54 points to outlast Houston. SPURS 108, BULLS 107: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, and San Antonio beat Chicago.