Raptors extend hex over T-wolves
TORONTO — Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan each scored 22 points, Alan Anderson had 18 and the Toronto Raptors earned their first victory of the season Sunday night, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-86.
Andrea Bargnani scored 10 points as the Raptors extended Minnesota’s miserable record against Toronto. The Raptors have won 15 of the past 16 meetings, including nine straight at home. Minnesota has not won in Toronto since Jan. 21, 2004.
Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points and Nikola Pekovic had 15 for the Timberwolves, who were outscored 26-13 in the fourth quarter, making just four of 16 field goal attempts.
Derrick Williams had nine points and eight rebounds for Minnesota, which is without injured forward Kevin Love (broken hand) and guard Ricky Rubio (left knee).
Winless in two games coming in, Toronto was playing the second game of two straight. The Raptors lost 107100 at Brooklyn on Saturday night in the Nets’ first game in their new home, the Barclays Center.
The Raptors scored 27 points off of 16 Minnesota turnovers in the first half and got seven points from Lowry in a 12-4 run over the final 3:10 of the second quarter to open a 56-47 lead at the intermission.
The Timberwolves took better care of the ball in the third quarter, committing just three turnovers and cutting the deficit to 79-73 heading into the fourth. Kirilenko scored seven points in the third and Pekovic had six.
Timberwolves guard Jose Barea was accidentally kicked in the face by teammate Dante Cunningham midway through the second quarter and was helped off the court for treatment. Barea was diagnosed with a mild concussion and did not return.