Toronto Raptors 94–117 Minnesota Timberwolves: match recap

Match recap

Minnesota overwhelmed Toronto 117-94 behind a blistering 48.4% three-point shooting night and a dominant rebounding display. The Timberwolves built a lead with balanced scoring from Edwards and Ball, then never let the Raptors claw back in a wire-to-wire victory.

The Timberwolves seized control early, with Anthony Edwards (26 points, 3 assists) and LaMelo Ball (15 points, 8 assists in just 16 minutes) orchestrating an offense that shot 48.4% from deep. Toronto's Ja'Kobe Walter (22 points, 5-of-8 from three) and RJ Barrett (20 points) kept the game within single digits through the second quarter, but Minnesota's 48-34 rebounding advantage—powered by Rudy Gobert's 13 boards—fueled second-chance points that stretched the lead. The Raptors struggled from beyond the arc (26.3%) and got zero points from Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl, cratering their offensive flow. By the third quarter, Minnesota's bench (41 points to Toronto's 33) and relentless interior pressure turned the contest into a rout.

Key factors

• Three-point disparity: Minnesota hit 48.4% from deep (including 4-of-5 from Ball and 3-of-3 from J.T. Shannon) while Toronto managed just 26.3%, creating a massive gap in efficient scoring.
• Rebounding domination: The Timberwolves owned the glass 48-34, with Gobert (13 boards) and Jaden McDaniels (6) anchoring a frontline that limited Toronto to one-and-done possessions.
• Stars vs. support: Edwards and Ball combined for 41 points on high efficiency, while Toronto's Barnes and Poeltl were held scoreless, putting overwhelming pressure on the Raptors' secondary scorers.

The Analyst's take

This was a statement win for Minnesota, showing what their roster can do when the threes are falling and Gobert anchors the glass. For Toronto, the zero-point nights from Barnes and Poeltl are a red flag—those two need to be involved offensively for the Raptors to compete against good teams. If the Timberwolves sustain this three-point efficiency, they'll be a tough out on any given night.