CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a demanding stretch that covers four straight matchups, Collin Sexton will see an All-Star point guard each night.

This is hell week for the promising rookie. It started Monday night with a duel against one-time All-Star Jeff Teague and the Minnesota Timberwolves -- a team that was waiting for the surging teenager.

“You could tell he was on the scouting report,” Larry Nance Jr. said following the 102-95 loss. “You could tell they were ready for his little hesi (hesitation), they were ready for some of the stuff you’ve seen in the past couple games. And as you start putting up bigger numbers and you start playing well, that happens. Guys start scouting you and start preparing for what you’re going to do.

“I was telling him it’s a sign of respect ... so take it as a learning opportunity and just beat them the next game.”

Well, there won’t be another game against the Wolves. Monday marked the second -- and final -- meeting between the two. And that’s why they were so much better prepared than other teams recently.

On Oct. 19, the Wolves watched as Sexton racked up 14 points on 6-of-9 from the field and spearheaded Cleveland’s fourth-quarter rush. Minnesota head coach Tom Thibodeau is a defensive chess master and it looked like he implemented a winning strategy to torment the youngster.

Sexton chalked it up to missing his shots that he’s been making lately. But it was more than that.

When he drove the lane, defenders gave him subtle nudges in the back that weren’t called. He was even talking about that with Tristan Thompson in the locker room afterward. Sexton was also stripped numerous times, committing a team-high four turnovers. He had less space to get to the basket, not nearly as much room to get his outside shot off cleanly. His handle was tested. On the few occasions when he got past Teague or Derrick Rose, Sexton’s path was blocked by another defender.

Sexton still has plenty to learn in his first NBA season. Coaches, teammates and Sexton himself all acknowledge that.

One of the next steps is being able to adjust when defenses prey on those weaknesses. That’s what the great ones do. It’s the same thing Cedi Osman is going through as he has become a key cog in Cleveland’s offensive attack.

“It’s a major adjustment,” Nance said. “Because in college or overseas, teams can game plan for you all you want. But you’re gonna get however many shots you feel like taking, because you’re going to be the best player on the team. You can take 2s, 3s, layups, whatever you want. We’re better, faster, quicker, stronger, all that stuff.

“At this level, you’re lucky to be even one of those things on your team. And so it’s a mind game at that point. I know this guy knows I want to get to my right hand, but how am I going to get there? Can I give him a shake to the left and make him think otherwise, or you’re just playing a game at that point. And that’s the type of thing that those guys will learn.”

Cleveland’s next game is Wednesday against Oklahoma City. That’s the team Sexton made his first NBA start against. All-Star Russell Westbrook didn’t play on Nov. 7. He will be waiting. So, too, will the Thunder, especially after Sexton tallied 15 points on 7-of-14 from the field in that game, showing the explosiveness and overall skill set that has the Cavs glowing.

The Wolves provided the first rendering of the blueprint to slowing him down and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Thunder implement the same strategy. It will be up to Sexton to make the adjustment. There’s more film on him now. His sizzling stretch since being placed into the starting lineup -- averaging 18.6 points and scoring double figures in every game -- has earned him more respect. With that, comes plenty of attention.

That’s why another step for Sexton is learning to make a difference when his shot is not falling -- just like Monday, when he missed 14 of his 19 attempts and finished with 11 points, the lowest total since Nov. 5.

“There are going to be nights like that. I’ve said it before, it being a good game or him having a bad game should not be predicated on whether he’s making shots or not,” head coach Larry Drew said. “He has to do other things to impact the game. That’s what good point guards do. If the shot is not falling, they find other ways they can impact the game.

“I don’t ever want him to feel because he misses shots that he didn’t have a good game. He still has to get us into our offense and he still has to be vocal on the floor and he still has to defensively have an assignment. There’s other ways he can impact the game.”

Sexton said after the loss that he felt he did a good job getting the team into sets late. He said it’s his responsibility to take care of the ball, lead his teammates, push the ball in transition, create shots for others, identify the hot hand and not let his shooting woes carry over to the defensive end.

“I felt he did,” Drew said. “Early in the game I kind of felt he was aggressive but got a little too aggressive when we needed ball movement. He got to the rim and a couple of times the ball was slapped out of his hand and off his leg. But again, Collin is a livewire and I’m not going to slow him down. I want him to be in attack mode 24-7. I thought early he made some questionable decisions on some things. But that’s part of the learning curve for him. As the game progressed I thought he got better.”

Sexton spoke with Nance and Thompson once more before leaving the locker room. They were discussing his poor shooting night.

“Were those good shots?” the starting bigs asked Sexton. “Did you like the looks you got? Would you take them again? That’s all that matters. That’s your focus.”

Sexton nodded and seemed to shrug off his bad night quickly. He even left with a smile on his face.

“You can’t tell anything gets to that kid,” Nance said. “He’s got a great attitude about everything. It’s crazy. I don’t think anything’s going to get to him. He’ll be fine.”

Sexton doesn’t rattle, always playing with the same infectious joy and required swagger. Sure, things bother him. But he doesn’t let it change his positive attitude. That’s the approach he will need to get through the next three games.

Westbrook awaits Wednesday. Then comes Kyrie Irving and another trip to the TD Garden against a team that saw Sexton twice in the preseason and will surely use that firsthand experience to its benefit. The final test comes Saturday night against the Toronto Raptors and four-time All-Star Kyle Lowry.

“I’m just going out there and playing my game,” Sexton said Monday. “If I’m doing what I can for my team we have a chance to win.”