Cavaliers top Timberwolves, Dallas misses Doncic

The Cleveland Cavaliers, the top team in the East in the NBA regular season, enjoyed a comfortable 128-107 victory Monday over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards, who topped 40 points for the third straight game.

The young guard is the first player with such a streak in Timberwolves history.

Edwards, who will participate in his third All-Star Game on Sunday, scored 44 points against the Cavs after pouring in 41 on Thursday against the Rockets and 49 on Wednesday against the Bulls.

The titanic effort by the guard, who converted 8 3-pointers and grabbed 6 rebounds, proved futile against Cleveland's dominant trio of leaders.

Power forward Evan Mobley carried the Cavaliers' offensive load this time with 28 points, 19 of them before halftime, in addition to grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists and posting 4 blocks.

Guard Donovan Mitchell and point guard Darius Garland, who will participate like Mobley in the All-Star Game, contributed 23 and 17 points, respectively.

Forward De'Andre Hunter, the Cavaliers' top acquisition before Thursday's trade deadline, made his debut in his new uniform, starting and scoring 12 points.

Cleveland continues to lead the Eastern Conference with 43 wins and 10 losses, the second best record in the league. A considerable distance behind are the reigning champion Boston Celtics (38-16), who rolled over the Miami Heat 103-85 on Monday.

Jayson Tatum, who was without partner Jaylen Brown because of injury, had 33 points and 8 rebounds against a Heat team that featured the debut of Canadian forward Andrew Wiggins, traded last week from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jimmy Butler.

Wiggins, an NBA champion with the Warriors in 2022, had a muted night with 11 points on 3-12 shooting from the field.

Protests in Dallas

The toughest loss of the day occurred in Dallas, where Mavericks fans continue to load up with reasons to protest the recent trade of their idol Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.

After learning that Davis will be out weeks with the injury suffered Saturday, Dallas fans watched as the last remaining center standing, Daniel Gafford, left Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings with an injured right knee.

From the stands at American Airlines Center, jeers of protest against the trade of Doncic, the star who led them to last year's Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, were again heard from the stands.

Venue security removed a couple of spectators from their seats who held up signs demanding the firing of general manager Nico Harrison, mastermind of the deal that shocked the NBA last week.

The experienced DeMar DeRozan cemented the bad night for Dallas fans with an exceptional basket that gave the 129-128 win to the Kings in overtime.

The forward finished with 42 points and Kyrie Irving with another 30 for the Mavericks.

In Milwaukee, the Bucks were unable to overcome the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Golden State Warriors, who won 125-111 in a vibrant duel between point guards.

Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard, the Warriors' and Bucks' respective playmakers, each finished with 38 points, while Jimmy Butler scored 20 in his second game for Golden State.

The day closed with the expected debut of Luka Doncic in a Lakers uniform in a matchup against the Utah Jazz.