NBA Game Recap - Minnesota at Toronto
Wed Oct 24, 2018 7:30 PM EDT

BKN
102
CLE
86
F
DAL
104
ATL
111
F
MIN
105
TOR
112
F
NY
87
MIA
110
F
UTA
100
HOU
89
F
CHA
110
CHI
112
F
IND
116
SA
96
F
PHI
108
MIL
123
F
MEM
92
SAC
97
F
LAL
131
PHO
113
F
WAS
122
GS
144
F

Toronto 112, Minnesota 105

Oct 24, 2018, 7:30 PM EDT

Final

1

2

3

4

T

Minnesota

19

29

26

31

105

Toronto

26

31

26

29

112

Leonard scores 35, Raptors beat Wolves 112-105 to reach 5-0
Wed Oct 24, 2018 11:26 PM

TORONTO (AP) With his highest-scoring game of the season, Kawhi Leonard kept the Toronto Raptors rolling along.

Leonard scored 35 points, Kyle Lowry had 13 points and 10 assists, and the Raptors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-105 on Wednesday night to improve to 5-0 and match the best start in franchise history.

"We're on the right track," Leonard said. "We've won every game so far and we've just got to keep going."

Jonas Valanciunas scored 16 points, Serge Ibaka had 15 and Norman Powell added a season-high 10 for the Raptors, who also won five straight to start the 2015-16 season.

"They got points in the paint, they got open 3s, they got out in transition," Minnesota's Jimmy Butler said. "We didn't take too many things away from them tonight and they capitalized at every opportunity."

Toronto won its 15th straight home game against Minnesota, extending its franchise record for consecutive home victories over a single opponent. The last time the Raptors lost at home to the Timberwolves was Jan. 21, 2004.

Butler scored 23 points, Derrick Rose had 16 and Taj Gibson 13 for Minnesota, which has yet to win back-to-back games this season.

"We played from behind all night," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Minnesota guard Andrew Wiggins was inactive for only the second time in his career, sitting out because of a bruised right quadriceps. Wiggins, who is from suburban Toronto, left in the first quarter of Monday's win over Indiana and did not return.

Rookie Josh Okogie started in place of Wiggins and finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Leonard shot 15 for 23, going 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and had 10 points came in the fourth quarter.

Butler said Leonard looks like the player he was before missing all but nine games because of injury last season.

"He's there," Butler said. "He's shooting the ball with confidence. The athleticism is there, he's passing it well, guarding. I think he's going to be just fine here.

"When you have a team like they have and a player of his caliber, the game gets really easy for him and for everybody else," Butler added.

Toronto was up by 17 points in the fourth but Towns scored to cut it to 106-101 with 1:16 remaining. Following a timeout, Leonard drove for a jumpshot over Rose, pushing the lead to seven.

Minnesota called timeout and gave the ball to Jeff Teague, but his missed shot was rebounded by Ibaka. Leonard was fouled and made both, putting the Raptors up by nine points with 38 seconds to go.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: The last time Wiggins was inactive was Nov. 10, 2015, when he sat out a loss to Charlotte because of a sore right knee. ... Teague led Minnesota with nine assists. ... All five Minnesota starters reached double figures in scoring.

Raptors: G Delon Wright (left thigh) returned after missing the first four games of the season. Wright went scoreless in five first-half minutes but did not return following the intermission because of soreness in his groin. ... G Fred VanVleet (sprained left big toe) was inactive. ... Valanciunas matched a career high with two made 3-pointers. ... Lowry had six rebounds. ... Toronto outscored Minnesota 56-38 in the paint.

DEAR MR. FANTASY

Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns shot 5 for 17 and scored 14 points, but was more upset at the result than his poor shooting.

"A loss is a loss," Towns said. "It's about winning. It's not about the statistical achievements, doing this or that for whoever my fantasy owner is."

CENTURY CLUB

For the first time in franchise history, Toronto has won five straight games despite allowing 100 or more points in each.

CAGED WOLVES

Toronto is 30-15 against Minnesota, its best record against any opponent.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: At Milwaukee on Friday night.

Raptors: Host Dallas on Friday night.

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Leaders

Minnesota PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Butler 23 -6 5 4 6 0
D. Rose 16 -8 5 3 0 0
Toronto PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
K. Leonard 35 2 2 5 2 2
J. Valanciunas 16 4 2 9 0 0

Team Comparison

MIN TOR
Points For 105 112
Field Goals 40/96-42% 46/89-52%
Three Pointers 15/30-50% 11/32-34%
Free Throws 10/16-62% 9/12-75%
Offensive Rebounds 16 11
Defensive Rebounds 28 33
Rebounds 58 50
Blocks 5 8
Steals 10 9
Turnovers 15 16
Points Scored Off Turnovers 15 23
Points in the Paint 38 56
Fast Break Points 10 15
Personal Fouls 17 18
Technical Fouls 0 1
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - TOR Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Wed Oct 24 MIN 105 @ TOR 112 J. Butler 23 K. Leonard 35

Game Information

Stadium: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 19,800
Game Time: 2:8