National Basketball Association
Toronto 97, Minnesota 94
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
Officials: #24 Kevin Scott, #44 Brett Nansel, #86 Brandon Schwab
Attendance: 19800

Dennis Schroder scored 22 points and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 97-94 Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Schroder, who was making his Raptors debut, added seven assists to help give new coach Darko Rajakovic a victory.

OG Anunoby added 20 points for the Raptors, while Scottie Barns had 17 points and five blocks, Pascal Siakam scored 15 points, and Jakob Poeltl had seven points and 11 rebounds.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 13 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds, Mike Conley scored 11 points, and Naz Reid added 10 points off the bench.

Minnesota took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but Toronto quickly took a five-point lead.

Reid tied the game when he made two free throws with 6:22 to play. Schroder responded with a 3-pointer to give Toronto the lead again. They stretched the lead to six before Towns cut the lead to four on a jump shot with 3:52 left. Toronto went ahead by six on a good defensive play by Anunoby that set up a dunk by Barnes with 19 seconds left.

Toronto scored the first six points of a first quarter that ended tied at 25.

Minnesota led by four during the second quarter before the Raptors regained the lead. Schroder's 3-pointer put them ahead 48-41 lead with 4:05 to play in the first half. Edwards missed a 21-footer at the buzzer, and Toronto led 53-51 at halftime.

Edwards scored 18 points in the first half, while Anunoby led Toronto with 13 first-half points.

The Raptors led by 10 points with 5:29 to play in the third quarter on a layup by Barnes.

The Timberwolves stormed back to take a 74-73 lead when Shake Milton finished the third-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer with 1:21 to go.

Jaylen Clark (right Achilles tendon rupture rehabilitation) and Jaden McDaniels (left calf strain) were out for Minnesota.

Christian Koloko (respiratory illness) did not play for Toronto.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   Toronto
Anthony Edwards 26 Scoring Dennis Schroder 22
Kyle Anderson 5 Assists Dennis Schroder 7
Anthony Edwards 14 Rebounds Jakob Poeltl 11
Anthony Edwards 6 Free Throws Made Scottie Barnes 4
Kyle Anderson 2 Steals O.G. Anunoby 2
Rudy Gobert 4 Blocks Scottie Barnes 5
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Minnesota 94 34.0 8-31 18-22 20 62 9 8 14
Toronto 97 40.0 14-35 11-16 27 47 11 9 14
Upcoming Games
  • Toronto will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Raptors have a W/L % of 1.000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Miami. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.