The NBA 82-game season is a grind. It can also be a blessing when a team gets to redeem itself just 48 hours after laying an ostrich-sized egg on nationally television. The Cavaliers, after being demolished by the Thunder, 134-114, on Jan. 16 in Oklahoma City on TNT, are back on the court at 9 p.m. Jan. 18 when they  conclude their three-game road trip against the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. The Cavs charged into Oklahoma winners of 13 of their last 14 games, and at 34-5 owned the best record in the NBA. Now they share that status with the Thunder, who are also 34-6. The Cavs lead the second-place Celtics by six games in the Eastern Conference. Donovan Mitchell will be on a mission against the Timberwolves because he blamed himself for the debacle in Oklahoma City. As lopsided as the final score was, the bulge was even greater until both coaches emptied their benches. With 3:33 left in the third quarter the Thunder led, 110-70. “They set the tone,” Mitchell told reporters. “We didn’t come ready to play. I put this one on me. As a leader, you have to set the tone. That’s twice now against this team that I haven’t been there. “When your leader is not doing it, it trickles down. I just have to be there. If you’re not locked in from the jump against a team like this, it’s going to happen. It starts with me. I just have to be better. I’ve got to do my job. I didn’t do it twice.” Mitchell was 3 of 15 from the field in the Jan. 16 loss to the Thunder. Eight nights earlier against the same team, Mitchell was 3-of-16, but his teammates picked up the slack to beat the Thunder, 129-122, and end Oklahoma City’s 15-game winning streak. The Cavaliers won 12 straight games before losing a clunker to the Pacers, 108-83, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Jan. 12. The Cavs bounced back from that defeat to beat the Pacers in Indianapolis, 127-117, two nights later. Kenny Atkinson is in his first year coaching the Cavaliers, but he has been coaching in the NBA since 2008. He was head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020. He made an experienced decision to not come down hard on his team after losing to the Thunder. Instead he has faith they will rebound, just as they did after losing to the Pacers at the FieldHouse. “One of those nights where nothing worked,” Atkinson said in his postgame press conference. “You’ve gotta take it on the chin and congratulate them. I don’t think you go rant and rave after a game like this. I don’t think it’s the correct response from a coach.” The Timberwolves, 21-19, are 5-5 over their last 10 games. After facing the Wolves, the Cavs return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to host the 20-20 Phoenix Suns at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 20. Cavaliers at Timberwolves When: 9 p.m., Jan. 18 Where: Target Center, Minneapolis Records: Cavaliers 34-6, Timberwolves 21-19 TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio Radio: WTAM 1100-AM