Raptors Can’t Get Friendly Roll From Pascal Siakam In Loss to Timberwolves

The Toronto Raptors had their chance.

For the third time this season, they drew up a last-second play to get Pascal Siakam the ball with the game on the line. And for the third time this year, an unlucky roll cost them, falling 116-112 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

The Raptors did everything they possibly could to pull off the come-from-behind victory. They forced the last second turnover from Malik Beasley to open the door for a Siakam miracle, but the ball wouldn’t fall. 

It was the type of game the old Raptors wouldn’t have lost. Toronto used to pummel bad teams, especially at home. Instead, the 2020-21 Raptors have repeatedly found ways to lose to below-average teams. This time, the loss came at the hands of the NBA’s worst team, the Timberwolves who clinched just their seven with of the season.

Toronto’s third-quarter issues reared their ugly head again. After seemingly fixing their third frame issues, the Raptors seemingly couldn’t stop rookie first overall pick Anthony Edwards in the third frame. He tallied 12 points in the quarter alone, sparking Minnesota on a 17-6 run that gave the Timberwolves a 12 point lead just seconds before the end of the quarter.

The Raptors didn’t roll over. Kyle Lowry came alive in the fourth scoring 12 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter alone and he repeatedly got to the rim with ease against the Timberwolves lackluster interior defence. He opened the door for Siakam’s last-second chance, but the 26-year-old’s up-and-down night continued with another miss from point-blank range.

With the loss, the Raptors fall three games below .500 and are clinging to the eighth seed in the East by just half a game. 

Powell Stays Hot As Anunoby Nears Return

With OG Anunoby nearing a return from injury, Norman Powell knows his days in the starting lineup are numbered but he’s not going to make the decision to replace him in the lineup very easy. The 27-year-old Powell finished Sunday night with 22 points and was a Raptors-high plus-nine for the evening.

Up Next: Milwaukee Bucks

After just one home game in Tampa, the Raptors will be right back out on the road for a pair of games in Milwaukee against the Bucks.