Sharpshooting Timberwolves outlast struggling Raptors

Anthony Edwards scored 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 115-107 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Rudy Gobert added 18 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which won its fifth game in a row. Julius Randle finished with 17 points and eight boards, and Donte DiVincenzo scored 16 points while making four of six attempts from beyond the arc.

RJ Barrett scored 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting to lead Toronto. Immanuel Quickley finished with 18 points and Scottie Barnes contributed 16 points for the Raptors, who lost for the fourth time in their past five games.

Both teams shot well. The Timberwolves made 51.9% of their shots from the field and 41.9% of their 3-point attempts, and the Raptors shot 49.4% overall and 42.9% from 3-point range.

Edwards provided a highlight-reel play in a season filled with them during a decisive third quarter. He dribbled in from beyond the 3-point lane toward the paint, soared high over Barrett and threw down a two-handed dunk.

Edwards flexed his arms and let out a scream as Barrett retrieved the ball for an inbounds pass.

Minnesota outscored Toronto 35-22 in the third quarter to grab a double-digit advantage.

The Raptors led by as many as 12 points in the early going. Barrett made a driving layup to put Toronto on top 19-7 with 7:19 to play in the first quarter.

The Timberwolves finished the first quarter on a 24-8 run to take a 31-27 lead. They scored the final nine points of the session on a layup and a jump shot by Naz Reid, a 3-pointer by Bones Hyland and a finger-roll layup by Ayo Dosunmu.

Minnesota led 55-54 at the half.

Edwards scored 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting in the third quarter. The score was tied at 61-all with 10:14 left in the period, and Minnesota went on a 25-9 run to go ahead 86-70 with 2:26 remaining in the third quarter.

Toronto never got closer than eight points off the lead the rest of the way.

--Field Level Media