Toronto-Wolves gameday preview

6 P.M. VS. TORONTO • TARGET CENTER • FSN PLUS, 830-AM

Preview: The Timberwolves have won seven of nine games and are coming off Friday's victory over Detroit. Now they get a Toronto team that has won two consecutive games and five of six. The Dwane Casey-coached Raptors are one of the surprise teams in the Eastern Conference, third in the conference. Toronto has won five in a row against the Wolves and 17 of the past 18 games, including a 94-89 victory over Minnesota in Toronto Jan. 17.

Players to watch: Wolves F Kevin Love is coming off a 28-point, 14-rebound game against the Pistons. C Nikola Pekovic has averaged 17.5 points and has shot 56.5 percent in the four games since his return from ankle bursitis. G Ricky Rubio is shooting 45.5 percent in his past seven games. … Toronto G Kyle Lowry hit six three-pointers and scored 24 points in Toronto's victory Jan. 17. G DeMar DeRozan (22.7) is ninth in the league in scoring, fourth in minutes played and fifth with 353 made free throws.

Numbers: Toronto is 12-12 vs. Western Conference teams, 6-7 on the road. Casey — the former Wolves coach — is third in Raptors history with 97 victories, behind only Lenny Wilkens (113) and Sam Mitchell (156). The last time the Raptors were nine games over .500 was at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Injuries: Wolves C Ronny Turiaf (knee) is out. Toronto reports no injuries.