Raptors Need A Win Over the T-Wolves

There is no question this is about as big a game as you can have for just game three of the season. Toronto stops home for the second half of a back to back tonight at the ACC. When you consider what lies ahead with another back to back in Oklahoma City on U.S Election Night and Wednesday in Dallas it makes today’s result all the more vital.

Luckily the Raptors have a great history against Minnesota in which they have dominated them for the better part of a decade. Also add in the fact they will not have to deal with Kevin Love or Ricky Rubio and this becomes an almost must win situation.

Minnesota played their only game of the NBA Season thus far defeating the Kings at home 92-80. This game featured the return to the NBA of two former stars. Andre Kirilenko who spent last season in Europe and Brandon Roy who was amnestied from Portland and many thought his career was over with his knee troubles that have plagued him. Kirilenko had 10 points and Roy 9 in the win. It was the former Maverick J.J Barea that did most of damage off the bench. He scored 21 points and had 5 assists to lead the charge.

Minnesota shot just 36.8% in the win but was able to get 17 offensive rebounds to compensate for that.

The Raptors meantime came out like a house on fire in Brooklyn but looked lethargic in the second and despite a better second half performance in end could not find a way to beat the Nets. Despite Kyle Lowry personally trying to will them to do so. DeRozan also had a bounce back game with 25 points. Landry Fields still is missing in action with just 2 points and Jonas after a double-double debut only had 2 points as well with 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Game time is 6pm at the ACC. If you forgot to set your clocks back it will be a 7pm. Should be a good one and I will be down their covering it live. Just a note with the Sunday game TWIR on Monday will be up later in the day as both Josh and I will be covering the game and not be able to pre-record the shows on Sunday night as per-usual. Look for it later in the day tomorrow.