MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Wiggins recorded his first career triple-double on Saturday night, while rookie Jarrett Culver set a career high in points scored.
But Wiggins' 18 points, career-high 11 assists, and 10 rebounds combined with 26 points from Culver weren't enough for the Wolves to win.
Fred VanVleet scored 29 points for Toronto in the 122-112 victory at Target Center.
The Raptors took a five-point lead into the fourth quarter thanks in large part to Kyle Lowry’s efforts in the third.
Lowry scored 17 points in the quarter to erase a four-point halftime deficit.
The Raptors pushed the lead to as many as 22 in the fourth. Serge Ibaka and Powell each had six points off the bench during a 21-6 stretch to open the period.
“They kind of extended the lead and it was kind of hard to come back after that,” Wiggins said.
Saturday was the second night of back-to-back games for both teams. Toronto beat Washington 140-111 on Friday, while Minnesota lost 116-114 at Indiana.
Minnesota got big first quarters from Wiggins and Culver. Wiggins had 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting and added five assists in the quarter. Culver led Minnesota with 14 points in the first, including 4 of 6 from deep.
“He shot ten 3s and made four,” Wolves coach Ryan Saunders said of Culver. “I was happy with him tonight.”
TIP-INS
Raptors: Toronto scored 58 points in the paint. … Powell’s 20-point game was the fourth time this season he’s topped 20 points while coming off the bench. … Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol both picked up technical fouls with 1:01 to play in the first half.
Timberwolves: G Allen Crabbe was inactive Saturday with an illness. Minnesota acquired Crabbe on Thursday in a trade with Atlanta that sent Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham to the Hawks. … Culver topped 20 points for the fourth time this season.
CHEERING SECTIONS
Raptors coach Nick Nurse grew up in Carroll, Iowa, and was initially planning on a big group of family members making the 4-hour drive to Minneapolis. But those plans were thwarted by a snowstorm Friday night.
“There were at least one or two buses coming up from my hometown and that all got canceled,” Nurse said.
Raptors guard Matt Thomas only played 3 minutes but had his own fan club that was vocal the few times he stepped on the court. Thomas grew up in Onalaska, Wisconsin, 145 miles from Minneapolis.
QUIET KAT
Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns had 12 points in the first half but was held scoreless after halftime. It was Towns’ second game back after missing 15 games with a combination of a knee injury and illness.
“I think tonight still shows that I’ve got to find a way to implement myself back into the offense,” Towns said.
UP NEXT
The Timberwolves: Host Denver on Monday night.