Wolves vs. Raptors | 6:00 p.m.
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Where To Watch: League Pass
Where to Listen: No Radio
This marks the final game of the 2015 Canada series for the Minnesota Timberwolves and their second straight game against the Raptors.
The Wolves are 0-2 so far on the trip and 0-3 so far in preseason, so it would be a nice little confidence builder go get a win on Wednesday night.
A few things to keep an eye on:
The two teams last played on Monday in Toronto. The Raptors came away with a 112-105 win thanks to 40 points from the slimmed-down Kyle Lowry. Jonas Valanciunas finished with 13 points and six rebounds. Corey Joseph led the second unit with 14 points, while Luis Scola added 12. Newly acquired DeMarre Carroll finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Bennett had three points and five rebounds off the bench.
Minnesota was led by Toronto native Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins had 21 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-2 from the 3-point line and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Nemanja Bjelica got the start for Kevin Garnett (out due to rest) and finished with 12 points, all coming from the 3-point line. Gorgui Dieng led the second unit with 11 points and six rebounds. The Wolves were solid from the 3-point line, shooting 44.4 percent (8-for-18).
Carroll is considered one of the better defensive small forwards in the league, but Wiggins had his way on Monday night. Chances are Carroll isn’t in full lockdown mode yet, and it’s hard to blame him in preseason.
In two games against the Wolves with the Hawks last season, Carroll averaged 20 points, five rebounds and an assist.
In two games being guarded by Carroll last season against Atlanta, Wiggins averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. In two games against Toronto last season, he averaged 20 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Raptors: James Johnson (Achilles) is questionable. Landry Fields (hip) is out.
Wolves: Nikola Pekovic (Achilles) and Ricky Rubio (quad) are out.
Raptors: PG – Lowry, SG – DeRozan, SF – Carroll, PF – Patterson, C- Valanciunas
Wolves: PG – Brown, SG – LaVine, SF – Wiggins, PF – Garnett, C – Towns
