Cavaliers at Timberwolves
THE STORY: The top two picks in the draft meet Friday in Minnesota when the Timberwolves host the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams will be reunited on the floor for the first time since the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, when Williams solidified his draft standing with a dazzling 32-point performance for Arizona against Duke. Williams said throughout the pre-draft workouts he thought he should’ve been the No. 1 pick, but the Cavaliers went with Irving despite him playing in only 11 collegiate games. Irving is starting and averaging 14.2 points, 5.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds. Williams is coming off the bench for the Timberwolves and is averaging 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds. Irving said draft status doesn’t matter once the season begins. “I think those numbers basically go out the window once you get to the NBA,” Irving said. “It’s all about how you integrate yourself with the team and how successful you are with your team. One, two, three, four, all that goes out the window.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (3-3): Cleveland forward-center Samardo Samuels learned a valuable lesson this week. Samuels was unable to make the team’s trip to Toronto because he lost his passport during the lockout. Because he holds a Jamaican passport and visa issues were involved, Samuels was unable to leave the country. He is back and available against the Timberwolves. Samuels is averaging 7.3 and 2.5 rebounds as the backup center to Anderson Varejao.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (2-4): Minnesota had a rare practice day Thursday after playing three games in four days. Now the Timberwolves will prepare to play four games in the next five days in this lockout-shortened season. They may have to play tonight without reserve forward Anthony Tolliver, who sprained his right wrist during a fall in Wednesday’s game against Memphis. The Timberwolves are already dealing with injuries to J.J. Barea (hamstring), Martell Webster (back), Malcolm Lee (knee), Brad Miller (knee) and Nikola Pekovic (groin).
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Point guards Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio are the only rookies on this year’s All-Star ballot.
2. Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in two games against the Timberwolves (both losses) last season.
3. The Timberwolves are last in the league in turnovers, averaging 19.3 per game.