The Toronto Raptors were the talk of the NBA world yesterday, as they absolutely slammed Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Needing to take home a win against a poor Minnesota Timberwolves team, a gassed Raptors team gave them their best shot on the second night of a back-to-back.
Fresh off the second night of a back-to-back, the Toronto Raptors were able to handle the Timberwolves, winning by a score of 86-81 in a game that will not be remembered fondly when looking at Toronto’s 2020-21 season.
This win didn’t come easy, however, as the poor shooting and innumerable turnovers made this game feel more like something out of the mid-2000s than the modern NBA. Still, with the win, the Raptors moved to .500, having gone 13-7 after their ugly 2-8 start.
It was clear that Toronto treated this game with an extra edge, as the entire roster was disappointed with their performance against the Timberwolves last week. The chemistry that has slowly become dangerous for the Raptors proved to be vital in Minnesota, at least to start the game.
The Raptors started the evening on a 23-11 run, with the likes of Norman Powell helping get the offense started off on the right foot. With Powell humming and No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards struggling to do much of anything on the offense, Toronto looked poised to coast past the Timberwolves.
Things changed as soon as the second quarter started. Toronto mustered just 30 points in the second and third quarters combined. With Karl-Anthony Towns going to work inside and Edwards absolutely detonating on Yuta Watanabe with an insane dunk, the Timberwolves started the fourth quarter up six with all the momentum in the world.
Powell was the only Raptor who bothered to show up on the offensive end for most of the night, as he ended the first half with 22 of Toronto’s 45 points. Players like Malachi Flynn acting more confidently on the offensive end were naught but ash, as Pascal Siakam struggled to crack double digits and Fred VanVleet was extremely inefficient.
It was Terence Davis who saved the day for the Raptors. After Toronto made some clutch shots to get within striking distance, it was Davis who hit a three to put the Raptors ahead, then iced the game with two clutch free throws.
Powell, who finished the game with 31 points, was the only Raptor to top 13 points in this game. VanVleet made just four of his 20 shots in a horrendous performance, the bench outside of Davis combined for just six points, and Siakam was locked up by Jaden McDaniels and Jarred Vanderbilt, Still, a win is a win.
The Raptors have to put this in the past as soon as possible, as they have two straight games against Joel Embiid and the mighty Philadelphia 76ers.