Wolves 102, Raptors 110

Wolves record: 17-34

Stephen Litel/MinnesotaSCORE posted notes throughout the game

The season marches on without big Al and the Wolves will forge ahead tonight with this starting lineup:

Ryan Gomes at power forward, Mike Miller at small forward, Kevin Love at center, Randy Foye and Sebastian Telfair at guards.

From Jon Krawczynski/AP Sports:

Randy Foye had a career-high 33 points and eight rebounds for the Wolves, who played the first game of the rest of the season without center Al Jefferson. And that future looks grim.

Jermaine O’Neal had 22 points and eight rebounds and Joey Graham scored 24 for the Raptors, who rallied from 13 down in the third quarter in their third straight game without Bosh.

From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:

With Jefferson and Craig Smith (cracked rib) both out, Wolves coach Kevin McHale moved rookie forward Kevin Love into Jefferson’s starting center spot, pushed Ryan Gomes down a spot to power forward and inserted Mike Miller into the starting lineup’s small forward spot.

It’s a configuration that McHale says will change in the season’s final two-plus months, depending on nightly matchups and when Smith returns from his injury.

The Wolves trailed by 10 points in the first half, led by as many as 13 in the third quarter and still were ahead by seven heading into the final quarter before the Raptors put together two bursts — one that got them back briefly into the lead and another than thrust them into a 98-91 lead with 3 minutes, 22 seconds left.

From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:

7 Wolves’ losses in their past eight games after winning 12 of 16.

15-11 points and rebounds for Kevin Love in 36 minutes

From Jonah Ballow and Matt Everhart/Timberwolves site:

Jason Collins played his first minutes under Kevin McHale, his first minutes since the infamous December 6 loss to the Clippers. He played nine minutes, and finished with three rebounds. After the game, McHale noted that he would have to start playing his backup big men more in Al Jefferson’s absence.

From Brian Murphy/Pioneer Press:

The Raptors, however, were determined to attack Love and the basket with O’Neal.

“Kevin Love is going to be a great player,” Toronto coach Jay Triano said. “But I didn’t know how he was going to be able to handle Jermaine.”

From the Associated Press:

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rashad McCants missed the game Tuesday night against Toronto because of illness.

McCants was at the shootaround on Tuesday morning, but fell sick in the afternoon and was unable to attend the game.

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Wolves 102, Raptors 110

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Alan Draper