Andrea Bargnani leads Toronto Raptors to a 97-87 win over Minnesota Timberwolves: NBA Recap
After receiving a thrashing at the hands of Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, the Toronto Raptors made a good comeback tonight and thumped Minnesota Timberwolves 97-87, to improve their record to 4-5 in the condensed season.
The star of the night for the Raps was once again Andrea Bargnani. The forward matching his season high tally, marshalled the Raptors with a game high 31 points on 8 for 9 from the charity stripe and 9 boards. Center Amir Johnson was superb too and completed a double-double by scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Jose Calderon had 14 points and 6 assists while Leandro Barbosa came off the bench and pounded 13 on an accurate 9 for 9 from the free throw line.
Raptors shot 44.2% from the floor and were outstanding from the charity stripe, knocking down 26-28 from the range.
Minnesota had more players (5) with scores in double figures; however it was the team’s awful shooting that led them to the loss. Missing most of the shots, Timberwolves netted only 27-80 from the floor.
The biggest disappointment of the night was Timberwolves star Kevin Love, who although had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds, but displayed terrible shooting, knocking down only 3-for-16 from inside the arc and 5 for 10 from the charity stripe.
"(Love) just didn't look like he had the energy he needed tonight," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "He's going to have games like that. He missed five free throws and that's really uncharacteristic."
Love himself could not believe his performance tonight.
"It felt like there was a cap on the rim at some point," Love said. "I remember (missing) a reverse layup and looking at it like `You've got to be kidding me. Five for 10, that's not like me. That's kind of how the game went for me today."
Reserve Jose Barea paced the Timberwolves with 16 points while Luke Ridnour and Derrick Williams both accumulated 13 apiece.
The first half of the game, especially the second frame, was highly competitive with neither team allowing the opponent to dominate as the lead shifted on four instances. With scores tied at 37 in the fourth minute, Minnesota rattled a fierce 10-2 run to turn the game in their favour, however Raptors, up to the task, replied with a magnificent 16-2 run to end the half with a 6 point lead 55-49.
The Raps pushed the momentum in the third frame and on a Bargnani three deep into the period; they boosted the lead to double figures 71-61. From there, the Raptors never looked back and dominated the game for a well deserved victory.
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