Winners and losers from Timberwolves’ massive win over Cavs

Winner: D’Angelo Russell

Timberwolves fans had been waiting to see if D’Angelo Russell would finally break out of the prolonged cold spell he’s been in lately. Leading up to Sunday, he was shooting below 30% from the floor of the course of his previous 32 games, dating back to the 2021-22 season.

It was a streak of such poor shooting that many questioned his fit on the team. And it was a fair discussion, as there were certainly times over the last several weeks where it felt like Russell’s slump was so serious that his presence on the floor was hurting the team more than helping it.

But those conversations can at least temporarily halt after his performance against the Cavaliers. D-Lo put up 30 points on an ultra efficient 11-for-13 from the field. He also dished out 12 assists while knocking down four of his five three-point attempts. Needless to say, it was a masterclass performance from the Timberwolves’ point guard when he most needed one.

This outing came immediately after an awful shooting night in Memphis on Friday, where Russell scored four points and shot 25% for the game. The fact that he bounced back in such a big way and helped lead the Timberwolves to a huge win is extremely encouraging.

Minnesota will need consistent production from their floor general this year to be successful, and D’Angelo Russell’s huge night should allow Wolves fans to breathe a momentary sigh of relief.