Timberwolves-Raptors Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Nov 04 2012 12:31AM

The Minnesota Timberwolves may be in position to gain a rare win over the Toronto Raptors.

The Timberwolves have lost 14 of their last 15 in this series and eight straight in Toronto heading into Sunday night's matchup with the 0-2 Raptors.

Minnesota (1-0) hasn't won in Toronto since Jan. 21, 2004. But the Timberwolves, who visit Brooklyn on Monday, start their first set of back-to-back games as the rested team after the Raptors fell 107-100 on the road to the Nets on Saturday.

"I'm just looking forward to Toronto, one game," Minnesota guard Brandon Roy said. "It's a big game for us and then focus on Brooklyn after that one."

The Timberwolves showcased some depth in their frontcourt even without the injured Kevin Love in their opener, a 92-80 victory over Sacramento on Friday. New big men Andrei Kirilenko, Dante Cunningham and Greg Stiemsma all helped Minnesota enjoy a 53-43 cushion on the glass, and the Timberwolves held a 52-42 advantage in points in the paint.

"This team is deep. We have a lot of guys that are just raring to go at any minute," said Cunningham, who grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

That frontcourt strength could provide a major advantage against Toronto, which has been outrebounded by slight margins in its first two games and outscored in the paint by a total of 28 points.

The offense has revolved mostly around Kyle Lowry, who is averaging 24.5 points and 8.0 assists. The three Raptors comprising their starting frontcourt, meanwhile, have totaled 45 points - 29 from Andrea Bargnani.

"Unless it's Andrea, we really don't establish ourself in the post," coach Dwane Casey admitted.

Center Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 10 rebounds in a 90-88 loss to Indiana on Wednesday to join Damon Stoudamire as the only rookies in team history to debut with a double-double. Valanciunas was limited to two points and three boards in 12 minutes Friday.

Toronto is off to its worst start since losing its first nine games seven years ago.

"We've had two games in which we've been in the same situation, playing really well at times and then we fall behind," guard Jose Calderon said. "But we've fought hard against Indiana and the Brooklyn Nets, which are going to be two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. That gives us a lot of confidence."

The Timberwolves are seeking to improve offensively after shooting 36.8 percent in their opener. J.J. Barea led the way with 21 points and five assists off the bench.

"I think J.J. made some really good plays on the pick and rolls," coach Rick Adelman said. "He made really good decisions and found guys near the basket."

Roy shot 4 of 14 - missing all five 3-point attempts - to finish with 10 points and six assists in 30 minutes in his Minnesota debut and first NBA action in two seasons after chronic pain in both of his knees caused him to initially retire.

"It's good to know that I was able to handle it well," Roy said. "My knees felt great, besides some cramps. First game back, I'm excited going forward."

Lowry scores 22, Raptors beat Timberwolves 105-86

Posted Nov 04 2012 11:37PM

TORONTO (AP) One seriously sloppy half was too much for the Minnesota Timberwolves to overcome.

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan each scored 22 points, Alan Anderson had 18 and the Toronto Raptors earned their first victory of the season Sunday night, beating Minnesota 105-86.

Toronto took advantage of 24 Minnesota turnovers - 16 in the first half - to score 32 points and leave Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman fuming.

"The first half is where we got killed," Adelman said. "Sixteen turnovers, you can't do that on the road. You can't succeed, you open up the door for them."

Andrea Bargnani scored 10 points as the Raptors extended Minnesota's miserable record against Toronto. The Raptors have won 15 of the past 16 meetings, including nine straight at home. Minnesota has not won in Toronto since Jan. 21, 2004.

"We took a little step forward tonight," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "We had a lot more possessions because of the turnovers."

Brandon Roy was the biggest culprit, giving the ball away five times, but there was plenty of blame to go around. Luke Ridnour and Chase Budinger each had four turnovers, while Alexey Shved and Nikola Pekovic both made three.

"I just couldn't get a grip on that ball," Roy said. "I know it sounds simple but I took a couple of dribbles and the thing was just flying out of my hands. No excuses, just too many turnovers."

Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points and Pekovic had 15 for the Timberwolves. Kirilenko said the flood of miscues meant Minnesota "kind of lost our composure."

"It's too many turnovers," Kirilenko said. "You can't win the game when every guy loses three of four balls. We have to work on this. It wasn't really forced turnovers, we just threw them away."

Trailing 79-73 to begin the fourth, Minnesota was outscored 26-13 in the fourth quarter, making just four of 16 field goal attempts.

"We just let the floodgates open in the fourth quarter," Adelman said.

Derrick Williams had nine points and eight rebounds for Minnesota, who are without injured forward Kevin Love (broken hand) and guard Ricky Rubio (left knee).

The Timberwolves lost another player when guard Jose Barea hit his head midway through the second. Barea was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms and did not return.

"When it happened, you could tell he was dizzy," Roy said. "He tried to walk and he just stumbled a little bit. I was thinking `Oh no.' With everything that's going on with concussions you just hate to see that, especially with a teammate."

Barea appeared to take an accidental kick in the face from teammate Dante Cunningham as he fell and also had a large red bump on the left side of his head. He said he couldn't remember the incident.

"It was bad luck," Barea said. "All I remember is I drove baseline, I went up, made the shot and that was it. Then I was (in the locker room)."

Barea said he hoped to play Monday when the Timberwolves make their first visit to Brooklyn to face the Nets.

"I'll probably play," Barea said. "It all depends on the trainers. I've got to take another test tomorrow to make sure.

"My face hurts, I've got a couple of cuts in mouth but other than that I'm all right," Barea.

Winless in two games coming in, Toronto was playing the second game of two straight. The Raptors lost 107-100 at Brooklyn on Saturday night, the Nets' first game in their new home.

Casey said Anderson's contribution off the bench was especially important given that the Raptors were still tired from their trip to storm-ravaged New York.

"He is the man," Casey said of Anderson. "He came up big."

Lowry's 20-point performance was his third in three games.

"He's a very good player and he really gets them going," Adelman said of Lowry, who he once coached in Houston.

The Raptors scored 27 points off of 16 Minnesota turnovers in the first half, and got seven points from Lowry in a 12-4 run over the final 3:10 of the second quarter to open a 56-47 lead at the intermission.

The Timberwolves were more careful in the third, committing just three turnovers and cutting the deficit to 79-73 heading into the fourth. Kirilenko scored seven points in the third and Pekovic had six.

Landry Fields opened the fourth with a dunk and Toronto scored nine of the first 12 points of the quarter, opening an 88-76 lead on Anderson's 3-pointer with 8:47 left.

NOTES: Toronto rookie Terrence Ross scored his first NBA basket on a jump shot in the fourth. ... Raptors F Linas Kleiza missed his second straight game because of personal reasons. ... Minnesota made 18 of 32 field goal attempts in the first half but went 11 for 32 in the second half.

Notebook: Raptors 105, Timberwolves 86

Duane Watson, for NBA.com
Posted Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:40 PM - Updated Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:40 PM

THE FACTS: The Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) can't seem to beat the Toronto Raptors (1-2), who defeated them at the Air Canada Centre 105-86 on Sunday. The Raptors have beaten the Timberwolves in 15 of their last 16 games, including nine straight in Toronto.

Notching their first win of the season, the Raptors backcourt led the way with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan who each scored a game-high 22 points and each grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while shooting a combined 16-for-24 from the field. Alan Anderson also chipped in 18 points off the bench, including 10 in the final frame.

Despite a close scoring game after three quarters with the score 79-73 in favor of the Raptors, they went on a 13-6 run widening the margin, which never saw the Timberwolves come any closer than 12 points.

The Timberwolves were lead by Andrei Kirilenko's 17 points and Nikola Pekovic's 15.

QUOTABLE: "It was great, the first one is always the toughest one and we have to build off of that. We have a NBA Finals team coming up on Tuesday, so we have to be prepared mentally to go in there." -- Lowry on the Raptors' first win of the season.

THE STAT: The Timberwolves did not take care of the ball, turning it over 16 times in the first half and 24 times total, leading to 32 Raptors points.

TURNING POINT: With the game at 79-73 after three quarters, the Raptors started the fourth on a 13-6 run. The Timberwolves shot 25 per cent from the field and never got closer than 12 points of the Raptors during the final frame.

HOT: Lowry, the Raptors' floor general continues to put his squad on his back scoring 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting, including 2-for-3 from the 3-point line, with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. He entered the game averaging 24.5 points, 8 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 4 steals.

NOT: Brandon Roy, in only his second game since missing a season with chronic knee pain, looked out of sorts. Struggling to get any flow in the offence, he played 22 minutes, shot 0-for-3 from the field with one rebound, one steal and five turnovers.

GOOD MOVE: After squandering a fourth quarter lead in the Raptors home opener, last Wednesday, despite head coach Dwane Casey put his starters back in the game down the stretch to insure his team came out with a win.

NOTABLE: The last time the Timberwolves won in Toronto was January 21, 2004 (108-97). While Kevin Love was out of the line up with a right hand fracture and Ricky Rubio with a torn ACL, the Timberwolves lost Jose Barea after hitting his head in the 2nd quarter. He left the game with a mild concussion and did not return.

UP NEXT: For the Raptors; Tuesday @ Oklahoma City, Wednesday at Dallas, Saturday vs. Philadelphia. For the Timberwolves; Monday @ Brooklyn, Wednesday vs. Orlando, Friday vs. Indiana.

• Timberwolves: Love, Rubio
• Raptors: Acy, Kleiza

• Timberwolves: Ridnour
• Raptors: --

• Lead Changes: 13
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #26 Pat Fraher, #58 Josh Tiven
• Attendance: 16754
• Duration: 2:06