Game Thread: Minnesota Timberwolves (18-20) @ Toronto Raptors (19-18), 7:00 PM ET

[Grey Dawn]

Go Raps!

This is the type of game they always historically lose, a good measuring tool for them.

Wolves should have a better record than they do, pretty sure they are top 3 in the league in OFF and bottom 3 in DEF.

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Links: http://firstrownow.eu/sport/basketball.html

Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20140117/MINTOR/gameinfo.html?ls=slt


The Toronto Raptors will try to atone for a subpar performance when they return home from a brief trip. A matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves might help.

The Raptors will attempt to add to their dominance over the Timberwolves with another high-scoring performance at Air Canada Centre as they seek a sixth consecutive home win Friday night.

Toronto (19-18) averaged 108.0 points and made 43.0 percent of its 3-pointers while sweeping a three-game homestand, but couldn't carry its high-scoring ways to Boston on Wednesday.

The Raptors shot 38.5 percent and their rally from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter fell short in an 88-83 loss. They were outrebounded 58-44 and allowed the Celtics to pull down 19 offensive boards, the most by an opponent this season.

"I think we're still sitting where we want to be. I don't think there's a team in the NBA that won't have a stinker or a bad loss," forward Steve Novak said. "It doesn't excuse the lack of energy we had coming out today, but there are games that are going to happen like this in an 82-game season.

"You've got to brush it off because we have another game Friday."

Toronto is seeking its first six-game home win streak since an eight-game run Jan. 17-Feb. 10, 2010. The Raptors will also try for their 10th consecutive home victory over Minnesota (18-20) and 17th in the last 18 overall matchups.

The Timberwolves are among the highest-scoring teams in the league at 107.1 points per game, but they've had trouble slowing down opponents. They're giving up 102.7 on the season and have allowed 104.3 over the past 14 games.

They've also given up 105.1 points per game in their last 16 road contests, though they had earned back-to-back wins away from home before a 104-86 defeat at San Antonio on Sunday.

Minnesota fell 111-108 to Sacramento at home Wednesday.

"We're so hands-off defensively," coach Rick Adelman said. "It almost takes an act of Congress to foul somebody. You have to get after people in this league."

The Timberwolves nearly rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final 1:45 but the Kings' Rudy Gay hit a key 3-pointer with 20 seconds to go. Minnesota is 0-11 in games decided by four or fewer points.

"I keep saying we're better than our record indicates but until we go out there and win games in a row and beat teams that we feel we're supposed to beat, we won't go anywhere," said forward Kevin Love, who had a team-best 27 points to top the 20 mark for the first time in four games. "We definitely need to start winning."

Love missed the two matchups with the Raptors last season due to injury, with Minnesota losing both.

Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan averaged 23.5 points in those games while shooting 54.1 percent.

I'm expecting a much more motivated Raptor team tonight. While they were terrible at the line and our big men didn't play good vs the Celtics, they didn't give up and attempted pretty close comeback... just came down to not making shots they should have made.

Last couple of times Amir Johnson has faced Kevin Love, he's locked him up well. Really need to see the real Amir Johnson, he's had a really bad month but if Hansbrough is still out, we need his best effort. Jonas will get pounded by Pek, but I expect him to dish out the same.

Our wing players should lead the way for us in this game, IMO. If it comes down to a close game, Toronto is one of the best and Minnesota has been like... 0-11 in games decided by 3 or less points. Let's try to win the game before that.

[robert de niro]

don't worry raptors fans, if you keep it a close game, we will blow it in the last minute :lol

[DirkNowitzki41]

cmon raps. do work :applause:

[Dave3]

I think if we shoot better than say, 50% FT, we should win. :coleman:

[Legends66NBA7]

I think if we shoot better than say, 50% FT, we should win. :coleman:

We were 6th before that Boston game and rank 9th now in Ft% in the NBA. That was a very strange game for the Raptors, but that's why I feel they will over come that.

As I say this, I'm off to get some refreshments.

[Fresh Kid]

t wolves gotta bust tha overrated raptors tonight tho:cheers: let's go!:applause:

[Grey Dawn]

t wolves gotta bust tha overrated raptors tonight tho:cheers: let's go!:applause:

At least they don't smell like poo like the Knicks do.

[Dave3]

We were 6th before that Boston game and rank 9th now in Ft% in the NBA. That was a very strange game for the Raptors, but that's why I feel they will over come that.

As I say this, I'm off to get some refreshments.
It was a weird game in general. Both teams were doing their best to lose it, but we won that battle.

Anyways, I do see us winning tonight.

[Legends66NBA7]

It was a weird game in general. Both teams were doing their best to lose it, but we won that battle.

Anyways, I do see us winning tonight.

I hope it's a convincing win. It would show where this team is at mentally after a loss.

This team needs Hansbrough back too. 15-20 minutes of his energy really helps give the rest Amir and Val need since they've both been slumps lately. If it does end up being a blow out win, I hope Hansbrough can play more minutes, just to see how is ankle has been.

[Fresh Kid]

At least they don't smell like poo like the Knicks do.
yall just lucky right now, you and dem other delusional raptor fans should very well damn know dat this ain't guna last :no: and yall won't be Atlantic div. champs either:coleman:

[Bcogswell]

Raptors by 12

[Legends66NBA7]

Ryan Wolstat's usually a guy who's on top of the Raptor news:

https://twitter.com/WolstatSun

No Hansbrough again. Damn, what's up with that ankle ?

[Legends66NBA7]

They celebrating something for the soldiers ?

Awesome.

[kaiteng]

JV trolling. :oldlol:

[kaiteng]

They celebrating something for the soldiers ?

Awesome.
They must produce too many camo jerseys.

[kaiteng]

http://i.imgur.com/gcCaMlt.png

[Legends66NBA7]

JV trolling. :oldlol:

:oldlol:

[Legends66NBA7]

Great start. Defense has been stingy.

[Legends66NBA7]

Turiaf was pissed on that miss.

[B-Easy8]

Great rotations again Rick leaving this scrub bench on for this long.

I think he wants to be fired.

[Legends66NBA7]

Really... :facepalm

[Grey Dawn]

Did Martin just 100% fake that contact?

[Legends66NBA7]

No Salmons for the 2nd half.

[La Frescobaldi]

this toronto color guy is feebly wishing & dreaming he could hold Tommy Heinsohn's mic for him.
Play by play guy is awesome tho

[Legends66NBA7]

DeMar needs to get the line, just like Amir took it.

[Sakkreth]

It's all good Bricky doing what his name suggests :applause:

[B-Easy8]

Why has AJ Price taken Shved's minutes????

Shved has been the only good bench player lately so he gets benched?

[Legends66NBA7]

DeMar's missed his last 7 shots. Just doesn't have it in this second half.

[Legends66NBA7]

DeMar 11 straight missed shots. Good pull.

[B-Easy8]

I hate this team.

We need to make some major trades at the deadline and fire Adelman.

[La Frescobaldi]

If it was me I'd bring Budinger in right here off the injury

[La Frescobaldi]

K Mart The Three!!!

[moe94]

dat dagger

Lowry is the one. :banana:

[BoogieWoogieMan]

K Low for three!!!

[Legends66NBA7]

K-Low baby !:applause:

That's the ball game.

[Sakkreth]

Nice Lowry stare down to wolves bench after that three :oldlol:

[B-Easy8]

Wow.

Barea with the last shot. :facepalm

Again Pek barely gets the ball in the 4th quarter.

So many problems with this team.

[Legends66NBA7]

I'd say Lowry and Amir are the co-MVP's.

Amir locked up Kevin Love and his help defense was great too.