Raptors end regular season with 120-100 win over T-Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Toronto Raptors are healthy, confident and ready for the playoffs.
Now, all that's left is to find out their opponent.
Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and the Raptors closed their regular season with a 120-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
''I think all of us want to win, get to that promised land,'' Leonard said. ''That's a great group of guys here that are unselfish, want to win, want to play defense, want to do the right things on the floor.''
Fred VanVleet scored 16 points, and Chris Boucher had a career-high 15 points and 13 rebounds off the bench for the Raptors, who finished the regular season at 58-24. They'll be the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and face the Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons or Orlando Magic in the first round.
''Since I've been in the league these last three years, we've been one of the top teams in the league, top teams in the East,'' VanVleet said. ''There's a lot that comes with that. You should take pride in that.''
Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng each scored 16 points for the Timberwolves, who played without All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns. Dieng started in Towns' place. It was Dieng's first start since April 12, 2017.
''Starting or playing from the bench, it doesn't really matter to me,'' Dieng said. ''I just want to play and help the team. I think it's good that I get to use this playing time.''
Toronto went on a 20-5 run over the final 5:16 of the second quarter and led 69-47 at halftime.
The Timberwolves never got closer than 15 points in the second half, and the Raptors led by as many as 32 points in the final two periods.
''I looked at little things and after that big second quarter from Toronto, we started trying to, `OK, let's win the next quarter,' and we did,'' Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders said. ''We won the first quarter, so those were positives to us. But ultimately, we didn't do enough things to be in the game at the end.''
Boucher scored 11 points in 10 minutes in the second quarter. Boucher's previous career best was the nine points he scored Dec. 28 against the Orlando Magic. Boucher, the G-League Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year, was signed to a standard NBA contract on Feb. 10.
''I just want to play,'' Boucher said. ''When you get in the game, play hard, good things happen.''
Towns did not play because of knee soreness. Saunders said Towns would travel with the team for Wednesday's season finale in Denver and be a game-time decision.
The Raptors set a franchise record with their 26th road victory of the season. The only player who missed Tuesday's game with an injury was guard Patrick McCaw (sprained right thumb). Starting guard Kyle Lowry and forward Serge Ibaka were rested.
''I think we're about as healthy as we could be,'' Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. ''I think it was nice to get Serge and Kyle a night tonight.''
GOOD TIMING
The Raptors were in Minneapolis on Monday night, allowing coach Nick Nurse and his staff to attend Monday night's NCAA title game. Nurse played against Virginia coach Tony Bennett when Nurse was at Northern Iowa and Bennett was at Wisconsin-Green Bay. ''I think I held him to 29 points one time,'' Nurse joked.
TIP-INS
Raptors: G Kyle Lowry (rest), F/C Serge Ibaka (rest) and G Patrick McCaw (sprained right thumb) did not play. VanVleet started in place of Lowry. . Toronto reached 1,000 made 3-pointers in a season for the first time.
Timberwolves: G Jerryd Bayless (right ankle contusion) and F Taj Gibson (strained left calf) did not play. They joined Towns and long-term absentees F Robert Covington (bone bruise on right knee), F Luol Deng (left Achilles soreness), G Derrick Rose (right elbow surgery) and G Jeff Teague (left foot inflammation) in missing the game. . Dieng made his first start since April 12, 2017. . Tyus Jones had his stretch of 129:18 without a turnover snapped.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Hosts Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic or Detroit Pistons in Eastern Conference playoffs.
Timberwolves: At Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:46 | Danny Green missed floating jump shot | |||
11:45 | Shooting foul on Gorgui Dieng | |||
11:45 | Marc Gasol missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
11:45 | Marc Gasol missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
11:43 | Defensive rebound by Gorgui Dieng | |||
11:30 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made jump shot, assist by Tyus Jones | 0-2 | |
11:14 | +2 | Danny Green made floating jump shot | 2-2 | |
10:55 | Josh Okogie missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:47 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard made 3-pt. jump shot | 5-2 | |
10:35 | +2 | Tyus Jones made floating jump shot | 5-4 | |
10:26 | Kawhi Leonard missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:23 | Defensive rebound by Gorgui Dieng | |||
10:16 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
9:56 | +2 | Pascal Siakam made jump shot | 7-4 | |
9:24 | Defensive rebound by Gorgui Dieng | |||
9:13 | Defensive rebound by Fred VanVleet | |||
9:16 | Dario Saric missed jump shot | |||
9:08 | +2 | Fred VanVleet made finger-roll layup | 9-6 | |
8:42 | Shooting foul on Dario Saric | |||
8:45 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
8:42 | Shooting foul on Dario Saric | |||
8:42 | Pascal Siakam missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
8:12 | Defensive rebound by Dario Saric | |||
8:06 | Jumpball | |||
7:58 | +2 | Tyus Jones made floating jump shot | 10-8 | |
8:06 | Jumpball | |||
7:58 | +2 | Tyus Jones made floating jump shot | 10-8 | |
7:40 | Kawhi Leonard missed layup | |||
7:37 | Defensive rebound by Gorgui Dieng | |||
7:29 | Dario Saric missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:27 | Defensive rebound by Fred VanVleet | |||
7:24 | Pascal Siakam missed finger-roll layup | |||
7:16 | +3 | Gorgui Dieng made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tyus Jones | 10-11 | |
6:46 | +3 | Andrew Wiggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tyus Jones | 10-14 | |
6:52 | Defensive rebound by Dario Saric | |||
6:25 | +3 | Danny Green made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Pascal Siakam | 13-14 | |
6:08 | Dario Saric missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:50 | Full timeout called | |||
6:00 | +3 | Marc Gasol made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Fred VanVleet | 16-14 | |
5:35 | +3 | Tyus Jones made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Gorgui Dieng | 16-17 | |
5:01 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
4:59 | Lost ball turnover on Fred VanVleet, stolen by Tyus Jones | |||
4:30 | MIN team rebound | |||
4:30 | Personal foul on Pascal Siakam | |||
4:17 | +2 | Tyus Jones made finger-roll layup | 16-19 | |
4:02 | Offensive foul on Marc Gasol | |||
3:53 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made dunk, assist by Gorgui Dieng | 16-21 | |
3:42 | Out of bounds turnover on Pascal Siakam | |||
3:32 | Shooting foul on Fred VanVleet | |||
3:32 | +1 | Gorgui Dieng made 2nd of 2 free throws | 16-23 | |
3:16 | +3 | Pascal Siakam made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Danny Green | 19-23 | |
3:06 | Personal foul on Pascal Siakam | |||
2:58 | Gorgui Dieng missed jump shot | |||
2:55 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
2:47 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made alley-oop shot, assist by Fred VanVleet | 21-23 | |
2:25 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made jump shot | 21-25 | |
2:04 | Fred VanVleet missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:03 | TOR team rebound | |||
2:03 | Personal foul on Dario Saric | |||
1:55 | Personal foul on Keita Bates-Diop | |||
1:39 | Fred VanVleet missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:37 | Defensive rebound by Andrew Wiggins | |||
1:24 | Traveling violation turnover on Keita Bates-Diop | |||
1:11 | +3 | Norman Powell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Fred VanVleet | 24-25 | |
0:57 | Dario Saric missed jump shot | |||
0:53 | Defensive rebound by OG Anunoby | |||
0:48 | +2 | Norman Powell made reverse layup, assist by OG Anunoby | 26-25 | |
0:25 | Andrew Wiggins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:21 | +2 | Dario Saric made dunk | 26-27 | |
0:21 | Shooting foul on OG Anunoby | |||
0:21 | +1 | Dario Saric made free throw | 26-28 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | Shooting foul on Chris Boucher | |||
11:43 | +1 | Dario Saric made 1st of 2 free throws | 26-29 | |
11:43 | +1 | Dario Saric made 2nd of 2 free throws | 26-30 | |
11:32 | Out of bounds turnover on Norman Powell | |||
11:21 | Keita Bates-Diop missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
11:19 | Defensive rebound by Norman Powell | |||
11:14 | +2 | Chris Boucher made dunk, assist by Jodie Meeks | 28-30 | |
11:00 | Anthony Tolliver missed jump shot | |||
10:56 | Defensive rebound by Norman Powell | |||
10:45 | OG Anunoby missed driving layup | |||
10:38 | +2 | OG Anunoby made reverse layup | 30-30 | |
10:24 | +1 | Jared Terrell made 1st of 2 free throws | 30-31 | |
10:24 | +1 | Jared Terrell made 1st of 2 free throws | 30-31 | |
10:07 | +3 | Chris Boucher made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by OG Anunoby | 33-31 | |
9:52 | Personal foul on Jodie Meeks | |||
10:07 | +3 | Chris Boucher made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by OG Anunoby | 33-31 | |
9:47 | Jared Terrell missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:44 | Defensive rebound by Chris Boucher | |||
9:32 | +2 | Chris Boucher made layup, assist by Jeremy Lin | 35-31 | |
9:21 | Cameron Reynolds missed layup | |||
9:12 | Defensive rebound by Keita Bates-Diop | |||
9:15 | Jeremy Lin missed driving layup, blocked by Keita Bates-Diop | |||
8:51 | Norman Powell missed layup, blocked by Jared Terrell | |||
8:48 | Defensive rebound by Keita Bates-Diop | |||
8:24 | +2 | Jodie Meeks made driving layup, assist by Jeremy Lin | 37-33 | |
8:16 | Jared Terrell missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:13 | Defensive rebound by Norman Powell | |||
8:09 | Norman Powell missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:09 | Defensive rebound by Keita Bates-Diop | |||
7:52 | +3 | Dario Saric made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jared Terrell | 37-36 | |
7:42 | Shooting foul on Jared Terrell | |||
7:42 | +1 | Jeremy Lin made 1st of 3 free throws | 38-36 | |
7:42 | +1 | Jeremy Lin made 3rd of 3 free throws | 40-36 | |
7:26 | +2 | C.J. Williams made jump shot | 40-38 | |
7:10 | +2 | OG Anunoby made driving layup, assist by Jeremy Lin | 42-38 | |
6:43 | Defensive rebound by Chris Boucher | |||
6:42 | +2 | Chris Boucher made driving layup | 44-38 | |
6:29 | Shooting foul on Norman Powell | |||
6:29 | +1 | Gorgui Dieng made 1st of 2 free throws | 44-39 | |
6:15 | +2 | Jodie Meeks made driving layup, assist by Norman Powell | 46-40 | |
6:15 | Cameron Reynolds missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:59 | Defensive rebound by Chris Boucher | |||
5:42 | +3 | Jodie Meeks made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jeremy Lin | 49-40 | |
5:16 | +2 | Gorgui Dieng made jump shot, assist by Cameron Reynolds | 49-42 | |
5:04 | Personal foul on Jared Terrell | |||
4:55 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made jump shot | 51-42 | |
4:43 | Andrew Wiggins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:41 | Defensive rebound by Chris Boucher | |||
4:22 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made jump shot | 53-42 | |
4:05 | Gorgui Dieng missed hook shot, blocked by Chris Boucher | |||
4:01 | Defensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
3:44 | Full timeout called | |||
3:33 | Personal foul on Gorgui Dieng | |||
3:17 | Defensive rebound by Andrew Wiggins | |||
3:08 | Josh Okogie missed floating jump shot | |||
3:05 | Defensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
2:41 | Defensive rebound by Danny Green | |||
2:34 | +2 | Fred VanVleet made finger-roll layup | 59-42 | |
2:24 | Tyus Jones missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:22 | Defensive rebound by Danny Green | |||
2:17 | +2 | Fred VanVleet made driving layup, assist by Danny Green | 61-42 | |
2:00 | +3 | Josh Okogie made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tyus Jones | 61-45 | |
1:42 | Shooting foul on Pascal Siakam | |||
1:42 | +1 | Keita Bates-Diop made 1st of 2 free throws | 63-46 | |
1:42 | +1 | Keita Bates-Diop made 2nd of 2 free throws | 63-47 | |
1:30 | Turnover on OG Anunoby | |||
1:30 | Turnover on OG Anunoby | |||
1:10 | Bad pass turnover on Tyus Jones, stolen by Fred VanVleet | |||
0:53 | Andrew Wiggins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:51 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
0:28 | +2 | Fred VanVleet made jump shot, assist by Danny Green | 67-47 | |
0:18 | Andrew Wiggins missed fade-away jump shot | |||
0:17 | TOR team rebound | |||
0:02 | +2 | Marc Gasol made layup, assist by Fred VanVleet | 69-47 | |
0:02 | Violation | |||
0:00 | End of period |