Anthony Edwards Scores 47 as Timberwolves Fall in Overtime to Cavaliers

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their first loss of the season on Monday night, dropping a 127-125 decision in overtime to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Despite a stellar 47-point performance from Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves were unable to maintain their early-season momentum on the second night of a back-to-back.

Edwards carried the offensive load for Minnesota by shooting 19-for-33 from the field, adding four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. The performance marked his second 40-point game of the young season, making him the first player in franchise history to score at least 40 points twice within the opening four games. Furthermore, it was his 31st career 40-point outing before turning 26, moving him past Kobe Bryant and Anthony Davis for the 13th-most such games in NBA history.

Minnesota built a strong 54-39 lead in the second quarter, fueled by Edwards's 20 first-half points, which carried a 60-50 advantage into halftime. However, Cleveland mounted a comeback in the third quarter behind James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 26 points and hit the go-ahead basket in overtime. Peyton Watson later blocked a potential game-winning shot from Edwards at the end of regulation to force the extra period.

Frustrations boiled over for Edwards late in overtime after a breakdown on the floor. With Minnesota trailing by a point with roughly 30 seconds remaining, a shot hit the backboard and left teammate Rudy Gobert near the basket for a potential offensive rebound. Gobert did not pursue the loose ball, allowing Cleveland to retain possession and leading to a scramble where Edwards was called for a foul. Visibly upset, Edwards turned to his veteran center and shouted, "Why did you stop playing?"

Gobert finished the contest with five points and a season-high 20 rebounds, though he missed all nine of his field-goal attempts. The center's struggles on offense amplified the sting of the late-game sequence, contrasting with his pre-game comments about wanting to dominate offensively. Meanwhile, the team also dealt with late misses from LaMelo Ball, prompting his older brother Lonzo Ball to voice support on social media for Edwards holding teammates accountable.

Despite the disappointing finish, the Timberwolves showcased several notable individual efforts. Nineteen-year-old center Joan Beringer provided an efficient spark off the bench with 12 points on perfect 6-for-6 shooting, alongside seven rebounds and two blocks in just over 17 minutes. Jaden McDaniels also contributed 14 points for Minnesota, which dropped to a 3-1 record.

For Cleveland, the victory offered a vital response after previous struggles to protect large leads. Donovan Mitchell added seven assists to his 26 points, James Harden posted 19 points and nine assists, Evan Mobley tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds, and rookie Meleek Thomas chipped in 16 points off the bench in his NBA debut. The Cavaliers improved to 2-1 as they handed Minnesota its first setback of the 2026-27 campaign.