Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Cleveland -7.0, Total: 213.0

The Cavaliers will be looking to get back on track with a win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday.

The Timberwolves started off the season miserably, but they have looked like a decent team in recent weeks. Minnesota has won five of its past six games and eight of its past 11 as well. The Timberwolves have also covered in seven of their past 12. Where the team has been thriving is on the offensive end. The Timberwolves have shot 45.0% from the floor or better in eight of their past 11 games, and they’ll need to be efficient offensively on Wednesday. They’re definitely playing the Cavaliers at the right time, as Cleveland has lost four of its past six games heading into this one. The Cavaliers also happen to be a pathetic 3-12 ATS in their past 15 games. They’ll need to snap out of this funk on Wednesday, as there won’t be many chances as good as this one. Cleveland is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS when facing Minnesota over the past three seasons, and the Timberwolves are a miserable 7-15 SU on the road this season. One trend that favors Minnesota when looking at this game is that Cleveland is a lousy 4-15 ATS after non-conference games this season. The Cavaliers do, however, get to face a Timberwolves team that is just 6-15 ATS after failing to cover in two of their past three games this season. PF Kevin Love (Back) is expected to miss this game for Cleveland, which is already without SG J.R. Smith (Thumb) indefinitely.

The Timberwolves are really playing well right now, and a lot of that has to do with SF Andrew Wiggins (22.1 PPG) stepping his game up. Over the past five games, Wiggins is averaging 25.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.6 APG and 1.4 SPG on 48.0% shooting from the field and 40.0% shooting from three. If Wiggins can continue to find his teammates and stay engaged on the defensive end then the Timberwolves will only improve the rest of the way. He should also be extra motivated to play the Cavaliers on Wednesday, as Cleveland traded Wiggins before he ever played a game for them in 2014. PF Karl-Anthony Towns (23.0 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 BPG) has also played well for the Timberwolves, but that should come as a surprise to nobody. Towns is one of the best players in the league already, and he has been especially hot as of late. Over the past five games, Towns is averaging 28.6 PPG and 11.4 RPG on 57.1% shooting from the floor and 63.6% shooting from three. This game should be more of the same for Towns, as the Cavaliers struggle to defend opposing power forwards. The Wolves will, however, need SG Zach LaVine (19.1 PPG) to step it up on Wednesday. He is shooting just 28.6% from three over the past five games, and Minnesota needs the guy that is hitting 39.7% on the season to show up.

The Cavaliers are struggling, but they have a golden opportunity to turn things around on Wednesday. Look for SF LeBron James (25.6 PPG, 8.5 APG, 8.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG) to come out and play with some extra energy in this one. James is averaging 25.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG and 10.2 APG over the past five games, but he has not shot the ball well. That should change on Wednesday, as James knows the importance of setting a good example in hard times. His team needs to find a way to get back into the win column, and it’s hard to imagine James struggling. PG Kyrie Irving (24.4 PPG, 5.7 APG, 1.2 SPG) must also come through for Cleveland on Wednesday. Irving has played well for the Cavaliers recently, averaging 28.8 PPG and 6.2 APG over the past five contests. He did, however, have six turnovers against the Mavericks on Monday, and it’s important that he learns to value every possession just a little bit more. If he can avoid making too many costly mistakes on Wednesday then the Cavaliers should earn a victory. He will be able to rest a bit on the defensive end, as the Timberwolves do not score much from the point guard position.