Cavaliers' fifth-ranked offense meets Timberwolves' shot defense

The Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33 last season) bring a top-five shot defense to face the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) and the league's fifth-best offense in Cleveland on Monday, October 26, at 7:00 PM ET.

Cleveland scored 117 points per 100 possessions last season and posted a 56.1 effective field goal percentage, fourth in the league. Minnesota held opponents to 52.9 on that measure, fifth-best. The Cavaliers' shooting meets the defense most likely to cool it.

The glass tilts toward Cleveland. The Timberwolves rebounded 73.7% of opponents' misses, 20th in the league, while the Cavaliers grabbed 26.9% of their own misses, ninth. Extra possessions are Cleveland's easiest way past a good defense.

Donovan Mitchell averaged 27.9 points and 1.5 steals for Cleveland, and James Harden handed out eight assists a game. Evan Mobley added 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, giving the Cavaliers rim protection as well as scoring.

Anthony Edwards scored 28.8 points a game for Minnesota, and Rudy Gobert pulled down 11.5 rebounds. Gobert's work on the glass matters most against a team that crashes it.

Minnesota is without Donte DiVincenzo, who played 30.5 minutes a game and is out. Cleveland has three frontcourt players out: Nae'Qwan Tomlin, Khalifa Diop and Ernest Udeh, Jr.

The Timberwolves arrive off a 131-106 win at Miami and a 115-93 win at Orlando. The Cavaliers beat Brooklyn 125-121, then lost 114-106 at Philadelphia.

Sportsbooks' prices give the Cavaliers a 57.9% chance to win. Keel's projection, built from the players available, puts it at 63%.