MINNEAPOLIS — Norman Powell and the Toronto Raptors used one last push to slide by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Powell scored a season-high 31 factors and the Raptors topped the Timberwolves 86-81 on Friday evening, closing the sport with an 11-0 run.
Toronto (15-15) earned its third straight win to achieve .500 for the primary time after beginning the season 1-6.
Powell is averaging 22.8 factors over his final 14 video games, together with 4 video games of 28 or extra factors. Regardless that his offensive contributions are making headlines, Toronto coach Nick Nurse stated Powell is doing much more than simply scoring.
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“He’s been a prime-time participant. He’s been at his best since he’s been right here,” Nurse stated of the sixth-year guard. “Meaning as a two-way participant. He’s enjoying nice, his taking pictures’s nice, he’s exploding to the rim, however he’s additionally been placed on some powerful matchups as nicely and he’s dealt with these. … His all-around recreation has been good.”
Karl-Anthony Cities led Minnesota with 19 factors and 13 rebounds. Malik Beasley scored 13 and Jordan McLaughlin had 11.
Minnesota dropped its third in a row since profitable at Toronto on Sunday. In that victory over the Raptors, the Timberwolves overcame a four-point halftime deficit with a 37-point blitz within the third quarter.
On Friday, they made a comeback that was much more dramatic.
After trailing by as many as 19, the Wolves clawed their approach again into the sport with a 16-0 run halfway by the third quarter. Jake Layman had a dunk and a 3-pointer through the stretch, which tied the sport at 57.
Minnesota led 81-75 with 3:30 to play when Toronto took over. Fred VanVleet hit a pair of free throws, Powell scored on a transition layup, and Pascal Siakam threw down a tying dunk.
On Minnesota’s subsequent possession, Cities was referred to as for a shifting display screen, and on the opposite finish, Terence Davis hit his third 3-pointer of the quarter to make it 84-81 with 30 seconds to play.
The Wolves had an opportunity to tie it, however Beasley’s 3-pointer was quick, and Davis hit two free throws for Toronto.
The Timberwolves got here up empty on their final eight possessions, and VanVleet famous that it was refreshing to win a recreation with sturdy defence
“Our offence has been carrying us most nights, nevertheless it’s most likely more durable to win that approach,” VanVleet stated. “If that rating would have been 120 to 125, I don’t know which approach it goes. However I like the truth that we have been in a position to clamp down.”
Enjoying a second straight recreation with out level guard Kyle Lowry (sprained thumb), the Raptors dominated the primary half, thanks partially to Minnesota’s chilly taking pictures. At one level the Wolves missed 18 straight 3-pointers earlier than hitting their final two of the second quarter to complete the half 3 for 22 from behind the arc.
Bringing the thunder
Minnesota rookie Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 choose within the 2020 draft, had a dunk for the ages close to the tip of the third quarter.
After corralling a cross on the left wing, Edwards noticed a transparent path to the basket alongside the baseline. Two dribbles later, he reached the lane, the place he was met by Toronto’s Yuta Watanabe.
No downside. Edwards skied over the defender and threw down a vicious right-handed dunk.
“That’s most likely the perfect dunk I’ve ever seen with my very own eyes ever,” Timberwolves ahead Jaden McDaniels stated.
Edwards didn’t wish to discuss concerning the dunk. He was distressed about Minnesota’s loss and his 3-for-14 evening from the sphere, together with lacking on all seven of his 3-point makes an attempt. As soon as his media duties have been completed, the rookie went again onto the Goal Heart courtroom and spent an additional quarter-hour engaged on his soar shot.
Tip-ins
Raptors: Nurse stated he didn’t anticipate an prolonged absence for Lowry, who’s averaging 17.7 factors and 6.4 assists per recreation. … Ahead Patrick McCaw was out there for the primary time in 11 months after recovering from surgical procedure to take away a benign mass from his leg. He entered the sport halfway by the second quarter, receiving a standing ovation from his teammates on the bench.
Timberwolves: Layman, who began Minnesota’s first three video games of the season, had seen his enjoying time dry up of late. He obtained off the bench for the primary time within the six video games, ending with eight factors in 13 minutes.
Up subsequent
The Raptors return to their momentary house in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday for the primary of two straight in opposition to the 76ers. The groups will meet once more Tuesday, additionally at Amalie Area.
The Timberwolves journey to New York to tackle the Knicks on Sunday.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
