The Timberwolves’ failure north of the border continues with a loss to the Raptors

Wolves reserve Nickeil Alexander-Walker started in his one return this season to his hometown. Starting point guard Mike Conley was out with a sprained left toe, so Alexander-Walker started in Conley’s place along with Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

Without a real point guard and with Alexander-Walker made a starter, the Wolves bench was outscored 34-15.

Alexander-Walker burst to the basket in the opening seconds of the game for a driving layup that he missed. But he impressed with his hustle and energy to get that start back in his hometown.

With Conley out, rookie Rob Dillingham came in off the bench for him and showed both his game and his speed to the basket.

Randle followed Sunday afternoon’s buzzer-beating heroics that beat Phoenix by scoring 14 of his 23 points in the first half, seven of them coming on 10 free throw attempts.

The Wolves trailed 32-27 after one quarter, 52-51 at halftime and led 79-77 after three quarters on a night when the Raptors pounded and pushed the ball looking for points in the paint, just as they have all season. They had 30 there already at the break.