Timberwolves searching for first victory at Toronto since January 2004

Wolves end a grueling January with their 17th game played this month, tonight in Toronto

January 31, 2018 at 12:41AM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

After losing last night in Atlanta to a team with the NBA's worst record, a little perspective about the Wolves' task tonight in Toronto against a Raptors team that at 33-15 owns the East's second-best record.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Wolves haven't won at Air Canada Centre since Andrew Wiggins was eight years old.

The Raptors have beaten the Wolves the last 13 times the teams have played in Toronto, dating to the last Wolves' victory there on Jan. 21, 2004.

That was more than a month before Wiggins' ninth birthday.

"It's unfortunate we can't win here right now," Wiggins said before tonight's game. "But a new season, a new day. We've got a new team, a lot different players different from last year. Get this one today."

The Wolves without Jimmy Butler beat the Raptors 115-109 just 10 days ago at Target Center, thanks to Wiggins' 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns' 22 points, all in the second half.

Wiggins always gets revved to play his hometown team, just like he does whenever he plays a Cleveland team that traded him.

"He seems to be a different player," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "We know he's a great player already. He gets that extra boost once he comes here or plays against us anywhere."

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Casey predicts the Wolves will be ready to play after Monday's horrible loss in Atlanta.

"In Kentucky, we call it `Mad as a wet hen,' " Casey said. "I'm sure they're going to be excited. We should be, too, the way they spanked us up there in Minneapolis."

Tonight is the end of a grueling January in which the Wolves played 17 games and finish a stretch where they have played two sets of back-to-backs in the past seven days.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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