Raptors Bite Wolves
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Behind a combined 23 assists from point guards Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford, Toronto ran past the Wolves 105-82 on Sunday at Target Center. Al Jefferson had 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Wolves failed to respond to a tough loss to the Celtics on Friday night, allowing Calderon to lead the perimeter-heavy Raptors with 15 points and 10 assists, while all five Toronto starters scored in double figures.
"I hope that's what it was, (a hangover)," coach Randy Wittman said. "It's not what this team is about. This was as selfish a game as we've played, worrying about what we're getting at the offensive end and (having) no concentration defensively. We proved tonight that if we don't have that concentration out of a tough loss like (Friday's), you'll get blown out." We played the numbers game in an attempt to tell the tale of the game.
Turnover for Sebastian Telfair, improving on his assist/turnover ratio (3.2), which is currently ninth in the league.
Toronto players that had 10-plus assists.
Those in attendance (visibly) booing former one-and-out Golden Gopher and Hopkins native Kris Humphries, who checked into the Toronto lineup with 5:43 to go in the second.
Wolves deficit at the half (after trailing by 12), thanks to a 17-10 run late in the second.
Giveaways for the Wolves at the break, compared to seven for Toronto. Coming in, the Raptors and Wolves were 23rd and second in the league in turnovers per game, respectively.
Assists for Jose Calderon in the games first six minutes, on pace for an all-time league record 48. Calderon leads the league in assist/turnover ratio (5.58). Interestingly, Wolves assistant general manager Rob Babcock signed the Spaniard as a free agent three years ago when Babcock was the general manager in Toronto.
Torontos consecutive-win streak over the Wolves, dating back to 2005. The streak is the longest current win streak over an opponent for the Raptors.
Wolves deficit less than three minutes into the third, sparked by a pair of Andrea Bargnani three-pointers and a pair of offensive fouls on Minnesota.
Assists for T.J. Ford in only 22 minutes of action. The Raptors assisted on 31 baskets, well above their season average of 23.02, good for second in the league.
Third-quarter points total for the Wolves. Minnesota shot 37 percent on 7-of-19 shooting.
Collective assists for the Raptors midway through the second. Toronto is well on pace to surpass its season average of 23.02, good for seventh in the league.
Lead changes in the first quarter. The Raptors and Wolves each made early runs, 10-0 and 8-0, respectively.
Wolves shooting percentage after one quarter, thanks in large part to nine points from Marco Jaric on 4-of-4 shooting. Jarics first-quarter total surpassed his total from each of the Wolves past four games.
Wolves shooting (8-of-12) percentage to start the game. Immediately following, Minnesota went cold, sinking only four of its next 20 attempts. During that stretch, a 19-4 Raptors run gave Toronto an 11-point lead.
