MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 112-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night, with Julius Randle leading the team with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

Anthony Edwards also contributed 24 points, while Rudy Gobert added 15 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks to the winning effort.

For the Raptors, Gradey Dick was the standout performer, scoring 25 points. Scottie Barnes and Ochai Agbaji also had solid contributions with 20 and 19 points respectively.

In terms of key observations from the game, the Raptors struggled to find their rhythm, particularly with their leading scorer RJ Barrett sidelined due to a shoulder injury. This setback resulted in a slow start, as Toronto missed eight of their first nine attempts, falling behind by a significant 16-3 margin.

On the other hand, the Timberwolves, fresh off their run to the Western Conference finals, enjoyed a strong home opener. The excitement was palpable as 11,000 season tickets were sold, marking the first time since 1990 this occurred in their home arena. Fans were eager to see Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, newcomers from the New York Knicks, who both delivered impressive performances. Randle was particularly impactful, while DiVincenzo hit 16 points, including four three-pointers.

One of the pivotal moments in the game occurred when the Raptors, trailing by 12 at halftime, began the third quarter with a brief rally to reduce Minnesota’s lead to single digits. However, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Randle stepped up, rapidly scoring 13 consecutive points and extending Minnesota’s lead to 78-56. From that point onward, the Timberwolves maintained a comfortable advantage over the Raptors.

Another noteworthy statistic from the game highlighted the Raptors’ free-throw shooting. After a game where they attempted 46 free throws against Milwaukee, Toronto only got to the line 13 times against Minnesota, successfully converting nine of those attempts.

Looking ahead, the Timberwolves will host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals, while the Raptors will return home to challenge the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.