Timberwolves at Raptors
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a rising squad and they take aim at ending their long victory drought in Toronto when they visit the Raptors on Tuesday. Minnesota has dropped 13 consecutive games in Toronto with their last victory occurring Jan. 21, 2004, which also was the last season in which the franchise made the playoffs.
Despite the Timberwolves being planted in fourth place in the Western Conference, they lost for the third time in the past four games Monday when they blew an 11-point, third-quarter lead en route to a 105-100 road loss to the lowly Atlanta Hawks. "Every team is capable of beating you," disappointed Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said afterward. "If you're in the pros, if you're in the NBA, you're a great player. You see it all the time. It's not easy, its challenging." Toronto has been stellar at home with the NBA's second-best mark (18-4) as it wages a tight battle with the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan averages 24.5 points per game but will be looking to halt a three-game shooting slump that has seen him average 17.3 points on 18-of-52 shooting.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS North Plus (Minnesota), TSN (Toronto)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (32-21): Trying to end the Toronto woes comes at an interesting time as Minnesota is 1-7 on the road in January with losses to the NBA's worst two teams (Orlando and Atlanta) and another struggling team in Brooklyn. On the other side of the ledger is the fitness of All-Star guard Jimmy Butler, who looked solid Monday as he had 24 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes. Butler missed four straight games because of a right knee injury and scored 21 points in Saturday's home win over Brooklyn but was 4-of-14 shooting and described himself as playing "like a bum."
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (33-15): Backup point guard Fred VanVleet is carving himself a role and he established a career high with 25 points in Sunday's 123-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. VanVleet, an undrafted free agent in his second NBA season, has scored 19 or more points in three of his past seven games and is deeply impressing his teammates as well as coach Dwane Casey. "That kid gets hit every time he goes in there - he hits the floor, gets up, gets back in the play," Casey told reporters. "He's not down there while the play's going back. He's an important part of what we do just because of his toughness. Size to him is nothing. He goes in there and challenges people."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. SF Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points as the Timberwolves recorded a 115-109 home victory over the Raptors on Jan. 20.
2. Toronto is 26-6 when making 10 3-pointers in a game this season -- its 32 such outings are five shy of last season's total.
3. Minnesota PG Jeff Teague had just two points on 1-of-12 shooting against the Hawks and has missed 15 of 16 shots over the past two games.