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TORONTO — If you're going to win, you might as well win going away.
The Toronto Raptors did just that in defeating the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 107-85 at the Air Canada Centre last night.
They shook off a slow start to win each of the final three quarters and had the game salted away with 10 minutes to play.
It was the Raptors' third successive win and fifth in six games, improving their record to a season-best eight games over .500 at 32-24.
T.J. Ford runs for the ball past Minnesota Timberwolves' Craig Smith, left, and Randy Foye, right. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)
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- Indiana Pacers
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Miami Heat
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Jersey Nets
- New York Knicks
- Toronto Raptors
- Utah Jazz
- Andrea Bargnani
- Chris Bosh
- Jose Calderon
- Vince Carter
- T.J. Ford
- Randy Foye
- Ryan Gomes
- Al Jefferson
- Jamario Moon
- Jamario Moon
- Morris Peterson
"We just played well as a team," head coach Sam Mitchell said. "I thought the point guards controlled the game and we just played well."
Big wins have become somewhat of a habit for the Raptors lately as their past eight wins have been by an average margin of 22.3 points a game.
Those who put a lot of faith in statistical projections weigh margin of victory and point differential as a strong indicators of future performance. In their five previous games, the Raptors' average point differential was 11.6, third in the NBA behind the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, who, with winning streaks of nine and 13 games, respectively, before last night, are the hottest teams in the NBA.
Mitchell isn't one of those who places a lot of weight on such things.
"I don't even think about that, it's not that important," he said. "It's just another game where we played well and we have to continue to do the things we need to do to get better."
Toronto used an overwhelming third quarter to put Minnesota away. In particular, the Raptors used an overwhelming Chris Bosh, as the Raptors' all-star scored on seven of eight field-goal attempts in the period.
The Raptors started the fourth quarter leading by 19 points and were easily able to hold on against a tired Minnesota team. Mitchell was even able to find a few minutes for forgotten soul Joey Graham — who delighted the crowd with an authoritative alley-oop on his first touch late in the fourth quarter — and excitable newcomer Primoz Brezec.
Bosh led all scorers with 28 points, although the Raptors' bench was big, too, scoring 43 points, led by T.J. Ford with 16 points. The Raptors shot 49.4 per cent from the floor and 24 of 28 from the line, while forcing 20 Minnesota turnovers and making only five of their own.
Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 23 points as the Timberwolves shot 48.4 per cent from the floor.
Jose Calderon was the engine in the Raptors' third quarter as he counted four of his seven assists, mostly by hitting Bosh, who had little trouble raining jumpers over Jefferson, whose defensive chops don't quite match his offensive polish.
But Calderon said the key to the Raptors' ability to churn out big winning margins is the consistency throughout the lineup, particularly with Ford running the show when Calderon goes to the bench.
"If we win by one point, it doesn't matter, as long as we win," said Calderon, who finished with six points. "But I think everyone is healthy, we have 14 guys ready to play and when we play the second unit — I don't like to call it that — but the level doesn't change, it is the same."
The Raptors took a 51-43 lead into the half, although they had to work for it.
The T-wolves jumped out to a 19-10 lead through the first seven minutes of the first quarter, showing their confidence from a win at home the night before against the Utah Jazz, which improved their record to 12-43, the second worst in the NBA.
Randy Foye, a second-year combo guard, hit his first five shots for 13 points, though he finished with just 18. Ford helped the Raptors respond as he scored 13 points of his own in the first half coming off the bench for Calderon.
Minnesota's hot start showed that, occasionally, the Raptors can make bad teams look good.
Wins Toronto should have had recently — at least on paper — include games against undermanned teams in Philadelphia and Washington and at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. Last week's loss to the hapless New York Knicks would count, too.
"Everyone in the Eastern Conference is going to have tough stretches and stretches when you play teams with below .500 records," Bosh said. "We could just as easily lose all these games. We have to come out and play hard and concentrate every day. These teams are still good enough to beat you."
Though not last night.
