Sunday night’s 129-124 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves by the Cleveland Cavaliers resulted from an NBA season-high 51 points from All-Star point guard Darius Garland.

 

The Cavaliers were behind 99-75 late in the third quarter when Garland scored 27 points and nailed six of his career-high ten 3-pointers.

 

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points, D’Angelo Russell scored a season-high 30 points, and both players contributed 12 assists to the Timberwolves’ victory against Garland.

 

Garland’s 51 points eclipsed Ja Morant’s 49 points for Memphis against Houston on October 21 to set a new season best.

 

Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen, two injured All-Stars, did not play for the Cavaliers, who suffered their fourth straight defeat. Allen missed the game due to a painful left ankle, while Mitchell missed it due to an injured right ankle.

 

With 8.3 seconds left, Garland scored two free throws to bring Cleveland within 126-124, but Russell converted from the line to make the score 127-124. After Kevin Love mishandled the ensuing inbounds pass, Taurean Prince sank two free throws to secure the victory.

 

Towns pulled down 13 rebounds, Russell made 11 of 13 shots, including 4 of 5 three-pointers, and Minnesota ended a three-game losing streak. Rudy Gobert contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Prince scored 19 points off the bench.

 

Lamar Stevens scored 15 points for the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley pulled down 13 rebounds, and Kevin Love scored 14 points. Cleveland suffered a home loss for the first time in five games this season.

 

There were 11 players in uniform for the Cavaliers, including the versatile forwards Mamadi Diakite and Isaiah Mobley.