Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 21st 2024

Preview and Prediction

Victories in November are not usually a cause for celebration, but the Toronto Raptors couldn't resist on Monday night. After breaking a seven-game losing streak with a 130-119 win against the Indiana Pacers, the team is hoping to continue their climb out of their early-season slump when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.

"I don't know if you guys heard the excitement in the locker room, but it was definitely a relief for us," said Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, who had an impressive 30 points and 15 rebounds against the Pacers. "It's great to finally get that winning feeling back."

RJ Barrett had a season-high 39 points for the Raptors, who have a 3-4 record at home. The Timberwolves have a similar record of 3-4 on the road. Thursday's game will give Toronto a chance to avenge their 112-101 loss to the Timberwolves on October 26th.

The Timberwolves are coming off a 120-117 victory against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, with Julius Randle hitting a game-winning 3-pointer. Randle scored 35 points and Anthony Edwards added 24.

Despite trailing for most of the game and being down by as many as 16 points, the Timberwolves managed to pull off the win. "That's what I'm most proud of," said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. "Our guys found a way to hang in there. It's a reflection of our season so far. We just need to keep fighting and getting results until we find our rhythm."

One of the areas the Timberwolves need to improve on is their defense. "We need to be more consistent on defense," said Finch. "We also need to play smarter and take advantage of opportunities to take control of the game. We've had a few too many turnovers at crucial moments."

In their game against the Suns, the Timberwolves allowed them to shoot 54.1 percent from the field and were down by 10 points at halftime. "We didn't give up," said center Rudy Gobert. "That's what matters to me. We have a resilient mindset and we will keep working to find our defensive identity. Once we do that, everything else will fall into place."

In their win against the Pacers, the Raptors only trailed by one point and led by as many as 22 points. They shot an impressive 58.5 percent from the field, including 48.3 percent from 3-point range.

Poeltl has been a standout player for the Raptors in their past three games, averaging 30 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 71.9 percent from the field. "We've been doing a great job of finding him," said Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic. "He's been playing well in pick-and-rolls and has improved in reading the defense and finding his teammates. He's been playing with more aggression and attacking the basket, which is a testament to his hard work over the summer. If he continues like this, he could become an All-Star player."

Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, who has been out with a right orbital fracture, returned to full practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Thursday's game.

PREDICTION

Minnesota Timberwolves

118

110

Toronto Raptors