7 P.M. VS. TORONTO • TARGET CENTER • NO TV, 830-AM
Preview: The Raptors had lost two consecutive games and seven of their past eight before beating Washington 88-78 at home Wednesday. They are 28-47, in 10th place in the Eastern Conference and won't make the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. … Toronto starts a three-game road trip at Target Center, where they have won six of the past seven meetings between the teams. The Raptors did not visit last season. This is the first visit as Toronto coach for Dwane Casey, the former Wolves head coach. … The Wolves last week said Kevin Love's healing broken hand would be scanned again this week to determine if he'll be cleared to play. As of Thursday, though, there was no update on his status.
Players to watch: Raptors forward Rudy Gay is averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.73 steals in 26 games since Toronto acquired him from Memphis in a three-team January trade. He scored a season-high 34 points in Monday's 108-98 home loss to Detroit, a team the Wolves thumped last week. He's shooting 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three-point distance in his past five games. … Center Jonas Valanciunas set a Raptors' rookie single-game record Wednesday with his 18 free throws attempted and 16 made. That broke Chauncey Billups' 1998 rookie record of 16 free throws attempted and Damon Stoudamire's 1996 record of 14 free throws made.
Injuries: Wolves F Love (hand surgery), G Brandon Roy (knees) and G Malcolm Lee (knee, hip injuries). Raptors F/C Andrea Bargnani is out because of a sprained elbow.
JERRY ZGODA
