Raptors beat Wolves 103-91 as Trent hits 30

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gary Trent Jr doesn’t have any weird plans for the All-Star vacation, he’s just happy to use the time to mount a bounty with his three younger brothers in Minnesota.

He certainly gave his family a good performance Wednesday night, scoring 30 points in his home state to help the Toronto Raptors – the team without All-Star Fred VanVleet – beat the Minnesota Timberwolves by a margin. No. 103-91.

“Gary grew up here. He’s definitely going to be excited for this game,” said coach Nick Nurse.

Pascal Siakam added 17 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Raptors.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Jaden McDaniels hit the field with 18 points and seven rebounds, but they were taken off by some defensive lapses and the icy outside shot down the area. .

Trent scored 5 to 12 from the 3-point range and had 10 points in the fourth inning for the Raptors in their ninth win in 11 games, while his father – former Timberwolves striker Gary Trent Sr – sat flirting in the shirt fur on the side. The brothers rolled their eyes.

Trent said softly he enjoys the opportunity for his siblings to watch him live, realizing they are too young to appreciate his father’s nine-year NBA career.

“I was the closest to reality of what could happen if they could see the work and become their reality,” said Trent, who grew up in the Twin Cities area and won a state championship. on the Target Center floor said. 2015 with Apple Valley High School. “Any chance I can recommend it or go out there and play in front of them, I just point it out and play my best.”

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Each team will go to the All-Star weekend in seventh place in their conventions, and the Raptors are on their way back to the knockout stages after missing last season for the first time in eight years.

The Raptors lost 30 points to New Orleans, of which they shot the longest of the season 30.5%. It was a much sharper performance but without the service of VanVleet, who was sidelined with knee pain.

Siakam hit three free throws early in the fourth half after fouling D’Angelo Russell, giving the Raptors a 77-74 advantage. It was their first lead since 49-48, and they never slipped after that. Trent knocks out a 3-way pointer to make it 92-84 with 5:08 left.

“He continued to be aggressive,” Siakam said. “We need that from him.”

Playing the second half of a fighting set and their seventh match in 11 days, the Timberwolves faced another test of their progress following a comeback win over Charlotte.

“You can only see the fatigue in us. I think the shots you can see are very short, just the free throws are short. That fatigue caught up with us,” Towns said.

Anthony Edwards, playing on a sprained ankle he’s listed as questionable, has just six points, all from the foul line. Edwards, Russell and Malik Beasley shot a total of 4 to 23 from 3-point range.

“I hope people can get their feet back or whatever,” said coach Chris Finch, “but you know my thoughts on this: I’m tired of hearing people get tired like how.”

RAPTORS REUNION

Finch was fired from Toronto’s staff in the middle of last season, when then-basketball boss Gersson Rosas fired Ryan Saunders and skipped the search process. That selection of Nurse’s top assistant worked out well, although Rosas is no longer around to appreciate it.

The Timberwolves entered the evening with the fourth-best scoring average in the league (113.6 points per game), with players following in with his acumen and attacking style. Edwards is so comfortable with him that he calls him “Finchy.”

HE SAY NO?

Beverley collided with Trent before opening, an exchange that resulted in a technical foul on both players. Trent responded with 13 points in the first 6:01 of the game, including three 3-pointers, as the Raptors took a 24-11 lead. Trent has had five consecutive over 30 games in recent times and has hit that mark eight times this season.

“Last game, I didn’t shoot very well. I obviously want to get on the field soon and assert myself, try to score in the basketball and play my game,” said Trent.

CAT

Raptors: Khem Birch started for VanVleet and got eight points after 20 minutes.

Timberwolves: This is their second best record (31-28) with 59 games over the last 18 years.

NEXT

Raptors: Visiting Charlotte on Feb. 25. Scottie Barnes will be in the Rising Stars match on Friday and VanVleet will play in his first All-Star game on Sunday after the 3-point contest on Saturday.

Timberwolves: Host Memphis on February 24. Towns will participate in a 3-point competition and an All-Star game. Edwards and McDaniels are on the Rising Stars game.

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