Julius Randle took just two games to adjust to his new teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He will look to keep his good play going as he makes his home debut in front of a likely sold-out crowd at Target Center against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night in Minneapolis.
Minnesota has split its first two games on the road this season. The Timberwolves lost their season opener to the Los Angeles Lakers but bounced back with a win against the Sacramento Kings, thanks in large part to Randle’s 33 points.
“He was phenomenal,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “It set the tone, kept us in the game early, almost all by himself.
“That (starting) lineup in particular right now is kind of struggling to find a great rhythm. He was decisive. He shot the ball well, created a ton of shots for his teammates, played with great physicality. Loved his defense, too.”
Toronto will try to contain Randle as it aims for two wins in two nights. The Raptors are coming off a 115-107 victory at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 27 points, shooting 8-for-11 from the field. He also contributed five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one blocked shot.
Five other Raptors players also scored in double digits, including center Jakob Poeltl, who had 19 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic praised the team’s effort and wants to see that continue as Toronto heads west to Minnesota.
“This team is together,” Rajakovic said after Friday’s win. “I thought we out-teamed them tonight. I thought that made up for a lot of mistakes.”
Along with Randle, Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo is expected to make his home debut with his new team. DiVincenzo and Randle were part of the trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns, a longtime fan favorite, to the New York Knicks just before the season started.
In his first two games on the road, DiVincenzo has averaged 9.5 points with a shooting percentage of 33.3, including 21.4 percent from three-point range.
Randle said his strong performance in the last game was largely due to teammate Anthony Edwards, who attracts attention from defenders and can drive to the basket for a shot or to set up a teammate.
“Ant makes the game so easy because he’s just such a threat out there,” Randle said. “He’s unbelievable. I said it from the beginning, he’s so special. When we both get going like that, it’s a lot of fun.”
Edwards is averaging 29.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in his first two games since the departure of Towns.
The Timberwolves and Raptors faced each other twice last season, with each team winning on its home court. The Raptors won 97-94 in their first meeting in Toronto, while the Timberwolves came back with a 133-85 victory in Minneapolis.
