Preview #15 – Timberwolves at Raptors

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Toronto Raptors
Date: 21 November 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. CST
Location: Scotia Bank Arena
TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves Eye Redemption north of the border

Alright Wolves fans, let’s talk about streaks – the good, the bad and the downright cursed. After a three-day break following their gutsy last-second victory over Phoenix SunsThe Timberwolves are headed to Toronto to face a Raptors team hanging out in the basement of the Eastern Conference standings. This should be a layup, right? A nice little appetizer before Sunday’s tent matchup with Boston Celtics. Except, of course, for one glaring detail: The Timberwolves haven’t won a game in Toronto since 2004.

Let’s put it into perspective. The last time the Wolves left Canada with a win, Shrek 2 dominated the box office, Facebook was still only a college thing, and Latrell Sprewell was more concerned about feeding his family than his three-point percentage. Over 21 seasons, the Timberwolves have found ways to lose 19 straight games north of the border, sometimes in spectacularly frustrating fashion. Last season, they had a golden opportunity to snap the streak in the season opener and still couldn’t close the deal.

Tomorrow night they get another chance at redemption. The Raptors aren’t exactly lighting the league on fire, and on paper this should be an easy win. But as any Timberwolves fan knows, “easy” doesn’t really exist in the Wolves’ vocabulary.

Rested but ready?

The wolves have had three days to recover, regroup and recalibrate. Hopefully, Chris Finch has used this time wisely, focusing on building the cohesion and consistency that this team has lacked in the early weeks of the season. The way things have been going, every break in the schedule feels like a gift, a chance to fix what’s broken before the next grueling stretch.

The damage report looks promising. Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo are listed as game-time decisions. My gut says we’ll see DiVincenzo out there, but Conley may sit with this one to give his veteran legs an extended mid-season break. If so, it will be Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and potentially Rob Dillingham to handle the offense and keep things flowing.

That’s where things get weird. Without Conley’s steady hand, the Wolves’ offense tends to unravel into a chaotic jumble of contested threes and misdirected hero ball. Against a struggling Raptors team, that kind of disorganized play could lead to one of those inexplicable losses that keep you up at night and question all of your life choices.

Live by the three, die by the three

The Wolves’ reliance on three-point shooting has been both a blessing and a curse. When the shots fall, they look unstoppable. But when they aren’t? Yikes. Tomorrow’s game will be a test of discipline. If the threes aren’t falling, can the Wolves adjust, attack the basket and find other ways to score? They have the firepower in Edwards and Julius Randle to bully their way to the rim, and Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid should be able to exploit mismatches inside.

Raptors, while they fight, they don’t just want to roll over. They have pride, and they also have Scottie Barnes, who is capable of causing problems on both ends of the floor. The Wolves cannot afford to take their foot off the gas or overlook this team, no matter how lopsided the standings look.

Looking ahead

This game isn’t just about breaking a 21-year curse or filling the win column. It’s all about momentum. After Toronto, the Wolves enter a crucial stretch with games against Boston, Houston, Sacramento and the Clippers. These games will define how November ends and December begins.

The Wolves currently sit two games back in the loss column from Oklahoma City, the team everyone assumed they would have to beat to claim the West’s top seed. Golden State currently holds the no. 1 place, but they feel catchable – if the wolves can get their act together and collect a few wins.

A strong close to the month could put Minnesota at the top of the Western Conference race and solidify their spot in the NBA Cup. There is a path here for the Wolves to not only erase their early season missteps, but also establish themselves as a legitimate contender.

Bottom line

Tomorrow’s game against Toronto is not just another date on the calendar. It’s a chance to shake off the ghosts of the past, build momentum for the future and show that this Wolves team has the focus and fight to take the next step.

Of course, the Celtics game on Sunday is the headliner, but first and foremost: the Wolves have to take care of business in Toronto. If they can do that, the next 10 days could set the tone for a season that still holds so much promise.

So here’s hoping the Timberwolves come out hungry, disciplined and ready to end a two-decade drought. The ball is in their court – literally. Let’s see if they are ready to make it rain north of the border.

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