Cavaliers send Wolves crashing

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers ended the Minnesota Timberwolves’ perfect start to the National Basketball Association season, winning 127-125 in an overtime thriller despite 47 points from Anthony Edwards.

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden led the scoring for the victorious Cavs, with 26 and 19 points apiece, as Cleveland moved to 2-1.

“Tough win for us, especially early in the season,” said Harden, who added four rebounds and nine assists.

The Timberwolves, having won their opening three games, led for much of the night, with a 15-point advantage in the first half.

Edwards, only cleared to play late after being listed as questionable with a right knee injury, had made an electric start, with 11 points in the first quarter.

But the Cavaliers rallied to pull level in the third quarter, and then had to come from behind again after slipping to a seven-point deficit in the fourth.

Harden’s driving floater with 10 seconds remaining tied the game, and a blocked Edwards layup with four seconds left sent it to overtime at 113-113.

With just a minute left in overtime, Edwards tied the game again with a trey so close to the arc that a video replay was required.

But Mitchell re-established Cleveland’s lead with a go-ahead midrange jumper, and when Minnesota’s Jonathan Kuminga missed a free throw with 30 seconds left, the Cavaliers pulled clear.

Harden made two more free throws, leaving the Timberwolves requiring three points, but Edwards’ clutch effort bounced off the rim.

Peyton Watson poured in two more free throws for Cleveland to bury the contest.

“We made a lot of mistakes on both ends of the basketball in that first half... second half, we did a better job,” said Harden.

Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder improved to 4-0 with a hard-fought 125-114 win over the Phoenix Suns.