Raps down T-Wolves to snap losing streak
Posted February 4, 2011 10:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Andrea Bargnani scored 30 points and the Toronto Raptors snapped a 13-game losing streak Friday with an 111-100 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
DeMar DeRozan added 20 points, Amir Johnson had 19 to go with 12 rebounds and Sonny Weems had 16. Jose Calderon tied his career best with 19 assists to go with six points for Toronto (14-37).
Kevin Love led Minnesota (11-38) with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Sebastian Telfair added 16 points while Darko Milicic and Corey Brewer each scored 15 for Minnesota.
The Raptors’ 13-game losing streak equalled the second longest in team history, matching 13-game streaks in 2001-02 and 1997-98. The club record is 17 from Nov. 7 until Dec. 9, 1997.
Six of the 13 games before Friday were decided by six or fewer points.
The Raptors gained control and with 40.2 seconds left as Calderon made two free throws to put Toronto ahead by nine points, giving the crowd a sense the streak could be over.
Telfair’s three-pointer with 2:59 to play brought Minnesota within four points. But DeRozan put the Raptors up by six and Johnson made the lead eight with a dunk off a fast break with 2:18 left after a Minnesota miss.
The Raptors were leading by six points entering the fourth quarter and Trey Johnson and DeRozan had the margin up to 10 after two minutes.
Brewer brought Minnesota back to within four with a layup off a turnover followed by a three-pointer from the corner, and it was a two-point game when Brewer made one of two free throws with 6:09 left.
But Bargnani hit one of two free throws and came back with a three-pointer from 25 feet and Toronto was up by six again. Weems hit a 16-foot jump shot and Toronto led 98-90 with 4:53 to play.
Bargnani’s three-pointer from the top of the key increased Toronto’s four-point half-time lead to nine early in the third quarter. Love`s three-pointer brought the Timberwolves back to within four at 70-66.
The margin was still four when Trey Johnson went to the line with 1:28 to play in the third and made both free throws to put Toronto ahead by six.
Wesley Johnson missed a 25-footer and Toronto came back to take an 84-76 lead on DeRozan’s fade away bank shot from nine feet.
Telfair and Toronto’s Julian Wright each made layups in the final minute before Nikola Pekovic ended the quarter with a tip shot, cutting Toronto`s lead to 86-80 after three.
Bargnani led Toronto with 13 first-half points and Weems had 12. Love led first-half scorers with 14.
DeRozan led all scorers with 10 first-quarter points on 5-for-5 shooting for the Raptors who led by as many as eight. Bargnani added nine for Toronto and Love led Minnesota with nine in the first quarter.
Toronto’s 103-87 loss at Minnesota last Saturday ended a 12-game winning streak against the Timberwolves.
The Raptors entered Friday’s game with some hope — an 18-12 all-time record against the Timberwolves, including 12-3 at home with a run of six wins in a row and eight wins in their past nine home games against Minnesota.
Notes: Minnesota forward Michael Beasley hopped off the court to the dressing room with an ankle injury with 2:28 to play in the first half. … Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa (hamstring) was a game-time decision and did not dress. … Guard Jerryd Bayless who suffered a sprained knee Wednesday also was out. … Forward Linas Kleiza (knee) is out for the season after surgery. … Forward Reggie Evans (foot) is still out. … The Raptors’ two wins last month was the lowest total for January in team history. … Toronto plays next at Milwaukee on Tuesday.
