Julius Randle scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished eight assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 131-122 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Minneapolis yesterday (Philippine time).

Jaden McDaniels finished with 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting for Minnesota, which won its fourth game in a row. Anthony Edwards scored 25 points on 10-for-20 shooting, and Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points on 10-for-20 shooting to lead Cleveland, which lost for the second time in its past three games. He added eight assists. Sam Merrill scored 22 points off the bench, and Jarrett Allen notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

The Cavaliers led 67-63 at the half before the Timberwolves took control.

Minnesota outscored Cleveland 43-22 in the third quarter to transform a four-point deficit into a 17-point lead. The Timberwolves opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run.

Randle scored the first seven points of the second half. He made a driving layup off an assist from Edwards, knocked down a step-back three-pointer and sunk a pair of free throws to put Minnesota on top 70-67. McDaniels added a turnaround jump shot to finish the run and put the Timberwolves on top by five points.

McDaniels increased Minnesota’s lead to 14 points later in the third quarter. He made a floating jump shot to put the Timberwolves ahead 89-75 with 6:14 left in the quarter.

Cleveland whittled the lead and climbed back within four when Eric Mobley (19 points) finished a dunk with 1:06 to go. Minnesota held strong in the final minute as McDaniels made a jump shot and a dunk.

Donte DiVincenzo added 22 points for the victors and buried 6-of-10 from three-point range. (Field Level Media / Reuters)