RJ Barrett scored 31 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 110-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.
Scottie Barnes, who returned from an injury, contributed 17 points and six assists. The Raptors have won two straight games after a seven-game losing streak. Barnes had missed 11 games due to a right orbital fracture.
Chris Boucher added 22 points, and Jakob Poeltl had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Toronto, which took control with a 13-1 run late in the fourth quarter.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 26 points, and Julius Randle had 23 points and nine rebounds. Minnesota lost its 20th straight game in Toronto.
Jaden McDaniels added 22 points for Minnesota, Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Donte DiVincenzo finished with 11 points. The Timberwolves haven’t won in Toronto since January 21, 2004, though they did defeat the Raptors in Tampa during the 2021 COVID-19 season.
Barnes scored six points in a row to give the Raptors a six-point lead with 3:24 left. Barrett’s dunk increased the lead to nine points with 2:33 to go. Edwards hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to five with 1:46 remaining but missed a 3-pointer that could have brought the Timberwolves within one with 18 seconds left.
The Raptors led 32-27 after the first quarter, having outscored the Timberwolves 24-8 in the paint.
Toronto held a five-point lead after Jonathan Mogbo’s dunk with 2:48 left in the second quarter but only led 52-51 at halftime.
Minnesota took a five-point lead early in the third quarter when Edwards hit a floating jumper, and the lead grew to seven points after McDaniels’ layup. However, Toronto responded with an 8-0 run to regain a one-point advantage. The Timberwolves led 79-77 heading into the fourth quarter.
After Minnesota took a five-point lead in the middle of the fourth, Boucher hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 95 with 5:20 left.
Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham injured his ankle in the second half and did not return, while Mike Conley (toe) did not play.
