Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 28, 2019 ) Cleveland 94, Minnesota 88

The Minnesota Timberwolves are managing to pick up some victories despite a rash of physical issues, and they'll aim for their first winning streak since before Thanksgiving when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Behind 20 points apiece from Robert Covington and Shabazz Napier, the Timberwolves picked up a 99-84 win over Golden State on Thursday.

It left them 3-2 since an 11-game slide, and all three wins have come without stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. "We've navigated through some injuries, some illness, been some personal circumstances that were unforeseen and in a lot of cases, we've had guys step up," Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders told reporters Thursday. One of the Timberwolves' recent losses was a 14-point setback against Cleveland at home Dec. 28, part of a recent 4-1 surge for the Cavaliers. They've since lost three in a row after dropping a 121-106 decision to Oklahoma City on Saturday at home.

TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: FS North Plus, FS Ohio

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (13-21): Napier has three straight games of at least 20 points while making 9-of-17 from 3-point range and handing out 18 assists in that span as he takes advantage of an increased opportunity. "I have always been an aggressive guard, but it makes everything else easier," Napier told reporters Thursday. "I have been trying to get other guys involved, and I have been very fortunate to make great passes and have other guys make shots." Covington had 10 rebounds in the win to record his third double-double of the season.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (10-25): Guard Collin Sexton stayed hot in Saturday's loss with 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting and he is averaging 24.3 on 51.9 percent shooting over his last three games. He also was involved in a play before halftime in which teammate Kevin Love showed great frustration not getting the ball from Sexton to take advantage of a mismatch, a scenario that coach John Beilein said was his fault. "That was my mistake," Beilein told reporters. "I wanted us to get the last shot. He had Chris Paul posted up and I didn't see it."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves PG Jeff Teague (knee) has missed two straight games and is questionable for this one.

2. Cavaliers C Tristan Thompson is 3-of-14 from the floor over the last two games.

3. Cleveland won the earlier matchup Dec. 28 despite committing a season-high 29 turnovers.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 101, Timberwolves 97