Dennis Schroder scored 22 points, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 97-94 Wednesday night in the season-opener for both teams.
Schroder, who was making his Raptors debut, added seven assists to help give new coach Darko Rajakovic a victory.
OG Anunoby added 20 points for the Raptors, while Scottie Barns had 17 points and five blocks, Pascal Siakam scored 15 points and Jakob Poeltl had seven points and 11 rebounds.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 13 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds, Mike Conley scored 11 points and Naz Reid added 10 points.
Minnesota took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but Toronto quickly took a five-point lead.
Reid tied the game when he made two free throws with 6:22 to play. Schroder responded with a 3-pointer, and Toronto regained the lead. They stretched the lead to six before Towns cut the lead to four on a jump shot with 3:52 left. Toronto went ahead by six on a good defensive play by Anunoby that set up a dunk by Barnes with 19 seconds left.
Toronto scored the first six points of a first quarter that ended tied at 25.
Minnesota led by six during the second quarter before the Raptors regained the lead. Schroder’s 3-pointer put them ahead 48-41 lead with 4:05 to play in the first half. Edwards missed a 20-footer at the buzzer, and Toronto led 53-51 at halftime.
Edwards scored 18 points in the first half, while Anunoby led Toronto with 13 first-half points.
The Raptors led by 10 points with 5:29 to play in the third quarter on a layup by Barnes.
The Timberwolves stormed back to take a 74-73 lead when Shake Milton finished the third-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer. Minnesota ended the third quarter with a 14-3 run,
Jaylen Clark (right Achilles tendon rupture rehabilitation) and Jaden McDaniels (left calf strain) were out for Minnesota.
Christian Koloko (respiratory illness) did not play for Toronto.
–Field Level Media
