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Timberwolves Wrap: One slips away in Toronto

By Ben Beecken

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors looks to make a pass past Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors looks to make a pass past Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images) /
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The Timberwolves had a chance to upset the Toronto Raptors on the road on Tuesday, but poor fourth quarter play allowed the home team to emerge victorious.

Just 24 hours after dropping a late lead to the lowly Atlanta Hawks, the Timberwolves offered up nearly a carbon copy performance, this time to the 34-15 Toronto Raptors. Perhaps more concerning, Minnesota has now dropped to just 1-7 on the road in the month of January.

Indeed, the Wolves have not handled an admittedly difficult part of their schedule with much success, save for a 2-2 record with Jimmy Butler sidelined. But for as good as the Wolves have played at Target Center, they’ve been equally as disappointing on the road.

On Tuesday, Minnesota played a strong first half and led by double-digits for much of the second quarter. They allowed their lead to dwindle to just six points by halftime, however, and the third quarter saw more of the same.

After the bench played well in the second quarter, they did a poor job in the third. The energy that the visitors exhibited early in the game was gone, and the hustle of the Raptors reserves, including Norman Powell, Fred VanVleet, and Jakob Poeltl, allowed Toronto to catch and surpass the Wolves.

When the starters began to return in the fourth quarter, they managed to grab the lead back early in the frame. But then the offense dried up, and the Raptors built a lead that threatened to balloon to double-digits on multiple occasions.

As the game slipped away, the home team managed a nine point lead with 2:27 remaining, but the Wolves went on a quick 7-0 run to draw within just two with 1:01 remaining. But after a timeout, the Raptors scored on a shot in the lane from DeMar DeRozan.

After Toronto scored, Tom Thibodeau chose to use his final timeout with 41 seconds remaining, trailing by four points. After the timeout, they were unable to get a good shot off, and the game was effectively over.

Tweet of the Night

Key Takeaways

  • Another game, another single-digit shot attempt total from Karl-Anthony Towns. He was just 4-of-7 on the night, tallying 11 points and 10 rebounds. In this game, he simply didn’t touch the ball, and Serge Ibaka did a great job being physical with him throughout the contest.
  • Another game, another chasm created by the 3-point shot that is impossible to overcome — especially when shooting just 15-for-24 (62.5 percent) from the free throw line. The Raptors only made nine threes and it took them 29 shots to get there, but the Wolves were just 5-of-12, and stood at just four 3-pointers attempted well into the second half and the number only reached double-digits due to the need to play catch-up at the end.
  • Jeff Teague was much better in this one, but between he and Andrew Wiggins, there were still enough head-shaking decisions to last a full week’s worth of games.
  • The Wolves did much better in limiting Kyle Lowry, who scored 40 points against them at Target Center 10 days ago. The All-Star point guard only attempted 10 shots and scored just 15 points.

Player of the Game

DeMar DeRozan: 23 points (6-18 FG, 1-6 3P, 10-11 FT), 8 assists, 4 rebounds, one steal

DeRozan wasn’t efficient from the field, and the Wolves forced him to take a few tough 3-pointers. He did, however, hit the shot that effectively sealed the game for the Raptors with 41 seconds left in the game, and got to the free throw line at will throughout the game.

Notable Box Score Lines

  • Jimmy Butler: 25 points (9-17 FG, 2-3 3P, 5-10 FT), 6 assists, 5 rebounds
  • Andrew Wiggins: 15 points (7-22 FG, 1-6 3P), 8 rebounds, 2 assists
  • Karl-Anthony Towns: 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds, 3 assists
  • Jeff Teague: 14 points (6-9 FG, 1-1 3P, 1-3 FT), 4 assists, 3 rebounds, one steal
  • Gorgui Dieng: 14 points (6-7 FG, 2-2 FT), 2 blocks, one rebound, one steal

Lots to unpack here.

Jimmy Butler only made five of 10 free throw attempts, which proved to be costly down the stretch. Also, Wiggins didn’t attempt a single free throw, and Towns, who is a 40 percent 3-point shooter, didn’t let one fly from beyond the arc. Neither Towns or Butler committed a turnover in this one, either.

Dieng made his first six shots of the game, and was 6-of-7 from the floor by halftime. He didn’t shoot the ball a single time in the second half. And Nemanja Bjelica, he of the 44 percent 3-point shooting, made one long-ball in the first half and didn’t shot another one.

Next: Karl-Anthony Towns is taking fewer shots than ever before

What’s Next?

The Timberwolves have finally wrapped up a stretch of five games in five cities and will return home to Minnesota to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night. They’ve won 10 straight home games, in contrast to what is now a 12-16 road record on the season.

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