Cavaliers’ swoon continues with nail-biting loss to ’Wolves

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Michael Beasley was happy with his winning shot.

He was happier with his game-saving defensive play.

Beasley scored on a driving layup with 5.9 seconds left to give Minnesota a 98-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night, snapping the Timberwolves’ losing streak at seven.

While understandably happy with the shot, he was more interested in talking about what occurred a few seconds later when he forced Antawn Jamison into an off-balance 10-footer that bounced off the rim twice and fell off.

“It was extra sweet to do it on the defensive end,” said Beasley, who had 28 points. “I forced him into a bad shot and we got the win.”

Jamison, who led Cleveland with 24 points, thought he was fouled and said Beasley told him after the play that he had indeed fouled him.

“I’m biased,” Jamison said. “I thought there was contact. That’s how the game goes.”

The Cavaliers are 1-13 in their last 14 and 8-22 overall.

Jamison gave the Cavaliers a 97-96 lead with 10.6 seconds left. After Minnesota called a timeout, Beasley, a left-handed shooter, got the ball at the top of the key, drove to his right past Jamison and banked in the winning basket.

It may have taken the entire game, but Beasley finally tuned in to coach Kurt Rambis’ advice.

“Coach had been telling me all game to go right because they opened up the right side for me,” Beasley said. “I just decided to listen.”

“I thought he would go to his left, but he went to his right,” Jamison said. “He made a good play.”

Beasley enjoyed his late-game duel with Jamison.

“That was nice,” Beasley said. “I liked that.”

Cleveland couldn’t hold a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

“This one stings a little bit more, probably than any one all season,” Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. “We were almost scared to win the game. When you want to win the game, you have to go and take it. That’s the bottom line.”

Luke Ridnour scored 23 points to help Minnesota improve to 7-24. Love added 16, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and had 18 rebounds for his NBA-leading 26th double-double.

Anthony Parker had 21 and Mo Williams added 17 for the Cavaliers. Trailing 62-57 midway through the third quarter, the Cavaliers pulled ahead on a 31-12 run to take an 88-74 lead with 8:07 to play. Jawad Williams hit three 3-pointers and J.J. Hickson scored five points during the run.

“Everybody just kind of rallied around each other,” Rambis said. Minnesota is 2-17 on the road this season, with the other win coming in Sacramento on Nov. 10.