- Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
- Event Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The Minnesota Timberwolves (24-13) will welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers (21-17) at the Target Center this Thursday.
The Cavaliers recently faced off against the Pacers, securing a close victory at 120-116. During that game, Cleveland committed 23 personal fouls compared to Indiana’s 14. The Cavaliers excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 16 of their 35 attempts. Indiana managed a free throw percentage of 73.7%, converting 14 of 19 shots from the line. On the boards, Indiana recorded 32 rebounds (7 offensive, 25 defensive) and registered 6 blocked shots while dishing out 32 assists and making 10 steals. Defensively, Cleveland allowed the Pacers to shoot 46.2% from the floor, totaling 43 of 93 attempts. Cleveland made 33 assists and forced Indiana into 14 turnovers, collecting 7 steals in the process. The Cavaliers gathered 48 rebounds with 10 being offensive and converted 12 of their 18 free throw attempts, yielding a 66.7% success rate. Cleveland finished with an impressive 55.7% field goal percentage, converting 49 of 88 attempts, alongside 10 successful three-pointers out of 26 attempts.
Darius Garland stood out in their last matchup, scoring 29 points on 14 of 23 shooting. Over the course of 33 minutes, he grabbed 2 rebounds and assisted on 6 baskets, boasting a shooting percentage of 60.9%.
The Cavaliers arrive for this showdown with a 21-17 record this season. They are averaging 119.2 points per game (ranking 9th in the league) while shooting 46.6% from the field. Cleveland’s three-point shooting stands at 35.1% (568 of 1,618), with a free throw percentage of 78.0%. The team averages 45.1 rebounds per game and has amassed 1,058 assists this season, placing them 5th in the league for passing. However, they do turn the ball over 14.3 times per game and commit 20.9 personal fouls on average.
On the defensive end, the Cavaliers force 16.0 turnovers per game while committing 20.6 fouls themselves. They hold opponents to 37.8% shooting from three-point range and are ranked 17th in points allowed per game (116.8). Cleveland’s defensive statistics show 46.1% shooting allowed (1,573 of 3,410) alongside an average of 44.9 rebounds per contest, and they sit at 26th in assists surrendered, having allowed 1,027 throughout the season.
The Timberwolves, on the other hand, recently secured a commanding win against the Heat, finishing 122-94. In that contest, Minnesota allowed Miami to gather 50 total rebounds (11 offensive). The Timberwolves managed 32.4% shooting from beyond the arc with 12 successful shots out of 37 attempts, and made 12 of 16 from the free throw line (75.0%). On defense, Minnesota restricted Miami to 35 of 98 shooting, yielding a percentage of 35.7%. Minnesota finished strong on offense as well, shooting 45 out of 98 attempts (45.9%), while hitting 14 out of 39 three-point attempts (35.9%). They converted 18 free throws at a rate of 78.3%. Miami committed 20 fouls in that game, leading to a total of 23 free throw attempts for the Timberwolves. Minnesota recorded 12 turnovers and 7 steals, while securing 63 rebounds overall (52 defensive, 11 offensive).
Anthony Edwards was a key player for Minnesota in this game, achieving 26 points with a shooting rate of 44.4% (8 out of 18), while collecting 5 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists in his 29 minutes on the floor.
Currently, Minnesota boasts a record of 24-13 this season. Offensively, the Timberwolves are connecting at a rate of 48.0% from the field, which ranks 7th in the league. They have accumulated 4,426 points this season (119.6 per game) and average 44.8 rebounds per contest. The team records 26.6 assists per game (12th in the NBA) and causes 14.2 turnovers. Additionally, they commit 21.7 personal fouls each game and shoot 76.2% from the free throw line.
Defensively, Minnesota allows opponents to shoot 35.0% from three (455 of 1,299) and concedes 78.8% from the free throw line. They give up an average of 25.4 assists and 43.7 rebounds per game, ranking 9th and 13th respectively in the league. The Timberwolves rank 9th in points allowed per game at 114.1, while forcing 15.1 turnovers and allowing teams to shoot 45.6% from the field (4th in basketball).
Who will prevail in tonight’s NBA battle against the spread?
Choice: Bet on Cleveland
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
