Eastern Conference frontrunners Cleveland Cavaliers will be targeting a seventh win in eight matches when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
This is the second meeting between the teams since the turn of the year following a 124-117 triumph for the home side back in January's clash at Target Center.
Match preview
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Having snatched a late victory in their 118-115 win over the Detroit Pistons two days prior, the Cleveland Cavaliers put on a more convincing display to see off the Washington Wizards in Saturday's encounter at the Capital One Arena.
Kenny Atkinson's men were a little slow to hit top gear and trailed by two points at half time but turned on the style in the remaining two quarters as they outscored their opponents 70-57 to claim a 134-124 triumph.
Donovan Mitchell recorded a second 30-point game on the bounce to spearhead the Cavaliers, who also had Evan Mobley and Darius Garland to thank for their combined 50 points, including 18 in the final 12 minutes of action.
Up to 42-10 for the campaign, the Cavs continue to set the pace at the top of the Eastern Conference standings just a few weeks shy of the All-Star break and are on course for their best regular-season record since 2016 (57-25).
Aiming to strengthen their championship quest, the Cavaliers opted to bring in De'Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks just before the trade window elapsed, with Caris LeVert and Georges Niang going the other way.
In what would be his first NBA game not in action for Hawks, Hunter could make his debut for Tuesday's hosts in their upcoming encounter against the Timberwolves, who were on the receiving end of his 35-point blitz back in January, which remains a season high.
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After kicking off a five-game homestretch with consecutive defeats against the Wizards and the Sacramento Kings, the Minnesota Timberwolves responded with back-to-back wins against the Chicago Bulls and the Houston Rockets leading up to Sunday's matchup against a resurgent Portland Trail Blazers outfit.
Chris Finch's men left themselves with a mountain to climb at half time against the Trail Blazers on Friday as they trailed by a whopping 13 points before rallying in the second half to run out emphatic 114-98 victors.
In the absence of Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels came to the fore for the Timberwolves, tallying 30 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, while reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid also chipped in with 23 points and eight boards.
Last year's conference finalists continue to hold on to the final automatic playoff spot in the West, albeit having played the joint most games (53) alongside the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks and the Blazers.
Currently with the fourth-best defence in the NBA, Tuesday's visitors will need to bring their A game defensively to stand any chance of toppling an opposing side that rank second for most points per game this term, only behind the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Team News
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Dean Wade is sidelined with a bruised right knee bone and is not expected to feature for the Cavaliers, while Isaac Okoro continues to nurse a shoulder problem.
Guard Sam Merrill was absent from the victory over the Wizards last time out due to personal reasons, and it remains to be seen if he will be back in time to suit up here.
Timberwolves' Donte DiVincenzo is about one week away from returning to action from a toe injury after opting against undergoing surgery at this stage of the season.
Julius Randle (groin) is also closing in on making a comeback alongside Mike Conley, but both men are set to miss out for the away side in this one.
Anthony Edwards missed only a second game this campaign due to a hip problem last time out, and the 23-year-old is in a race against time to be available for Tuesday's clash.
Cleveland Cavaliers possible starting five:
Garland, Mitchell; Strus, Mobley; Allen
Minnesota Timberwolves possible starting five:
Edwards, Alexander-Walker; McDaniels, Reid; Gobert
We say: Cavaliers to win by 9+ points
Given the Timberwolves' injury concerns for this one, an already faint chance of winning has been made even slimmer.
We fully expect the Cavaliers to cruise to a fairly routine win at the end of the 48 minutes of play.
Adepoju Marvellous
