By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
December 26, 2010
CLEVELAND -- It's been a long December for the Cavaliers. The longest seven minutes of it may have happened Sunday night.
A game the Cavaliers just had to have turned from one they essentially did have into a tough to explain, last-second loss. Very tough, considering the opponent was the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves. The team that came in with a seven-game losing streak and a 12-game road losing streak. The team that escaped with a 98-97 win despite trailing by 14 with 7:54 to go.
They did it when Michael Beasley cruised to the basket for a layup with 5.9 seconds left and the Cavaliers missed their final shot, a runner by Antawn Jamison in traffic. Jamison thought he was fouled by Beasley on the shot and had a pretty strong case, but no call was made.
The Cavaliers just didn't get stops -- or baskets -- when it counted most.
"This one stings a little more than almost probably any one this season," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said.
The losses are mounting for the 8-22 Cavaliers, who have lost 13 of 14. The 7-24 Timberwolves sweep the season series, and the Cavaliers next game is Tuesday night against one of the NBA's hottest teams, Orlando.
If things are going to turn around, the Cavaliers have to start playing sound basketball for 48 minutes. They led by 11 after the first quarter Sunday night but trailed at halftime before building the lead they eventually relinquished. Luke Ridnour kept getting open and did more than his part in shooting the Timberwolves out of their late hole. Ridnour was a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the 3-point line on his way to 23 points.
Beasley led everybody with 28. The lefty went to his right and went past Jamison on what proved to be the game winner.
Jamison had 24 for the Cavaliers including a go-ahead layup on a sweeping drive to make it 97-96 with 10.9 seconds left. That was the Cavaliers' only field goal in the final 3:25.
"The last three minutes, we really had the game," Scott said. "It was almost like we were scared to win the game."
Daniel Gibson was home with the flu. Anthony Parker helped pick up the scoring slack with 23, but Kevin Love (16 points, 18 rebounds) and Ridnour each hit big 3-point baskets in bringing Minnesota back from what was an 88-74 hole. Love's rebound of a Ridnour miss in the final 25 seconds led to the go-ahead free throws and started what turned out to be a frantic finish, just not a good one for the Cavaliers.
The Cavs host Orlando Tuesday night before visiting struggling Charlotte Wednesday. The schedule gets really nasty from there as the Cavs visit the Bulls and host the Mavericks next weekend.
