Breaking: Timberwolves stun Raptors 128-126 with late surge in Toronto
The Minnesota Timberwolves just grabbed a road win that felt bigger than two points. Minnesota stormed back in the fourth quarter to beat the Toronto Raptors 128-126, capping a tense finish and a steady climb in the West. Anthony Edwards led the way with 30. He took over late, and the Timberwolves closed with poise that is starting to look routine.
The fourth quarter that flipped everything
Toronto led for long stretches. The Raptors ran, cut, and kept Minnesota off balance. Then the fourth quarter tilted. The Timberwolves defended without fouling, attacked matchups, and strung together stops. When it mattered most, they got the ball to their star and trusted their reads.
Edwards hit tough jumpers and powered to the rim. Minnesota spread the floor, moved the ball, and refused to blink. The crowd at Scotiabank Arena was loud. The Timberwolves were louder in their play. Possession by possession, they erased the gap and kept pressing.
Final: Timberwolves 128, Raptors 126. Minnesota has won five of its last six and is 52 games into the season.
This was not a lucky escape. It was a composed finish built on choices. Minnesota stopped gambling on defense. They cut off driving lanes, then ran hard off misses. The result was a late surge that showed control and trust.
Anthony Edwards, the closer
The box score says 30, but that number only hints at the impact. Edwards dictated tempo when the game tightened. He hunted switches, rose over contests, and embraced contact. His balance in the midrange and his burst downhill kept Toronto guessing.
What stood out most was his patience. He did not force shots early in the clock. He drew two defenders, kicked it out, then got it back in rhythm. That is star growth. That is the difference in a one-possession finish.
The helpers who made it hum
Mike Conley settled the group and managed pace. He called sets, spaced to the corner, and slipped in for timely drives. Karl-Anthony Towns pulled a big defender away from the paint, which opened lanes for Edwards. Rudy Gobert controlled the glass late, and he challenged everything near the rim. Minnesota’s wings filled the gaps, chased shooters, and cleaned up loose balls.
These are the details that win late. A strong screen here, a quick extra pass there. It was all there when the game narrowed.
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Raptors brought the fight, and kept swinging
Toronto did not fade. Their ball handlers kept pressure on the paint and found cutters behind the defense. The Raptors hit key shots and kept the building buzzing. Their wings attacked closeouts and lived at the rim. The pace wore on Minnesota for three quarters, and it almost held up.
This was not a case of one team collapsing. It was a case of another team raising its level. The Raptors moved the ball and competed. Minnesota just matched every answer, then added one more.
Minnesota’s best defense late came from better offense. Clean looks, set defense, no live-ball mistakes.
What this win says about the Timberwolves
This finish felt familiar, and that is the point. The Timberwolves are building a crunch-time identity that travels. They trust their star, they trust their spacing, and they defend as a unit. It is a recipe for tight games on the road, which is where good teams show their ceiling.
- Edwards is a closer, and the team leans into that.
- Conley’s control stabilizes every late-game trip.
- Towns’ range creates room for drivers.
- Gobert’s rim work seals defensive possessions.
Game 52 is a snapshot, and it shows maturity. Earlier versions of the Timberwolves might have chased steals or taken quick threes. This group worked the clock, attacked paint, and forced Toronto to make tough shots. Little choices added up to a big win.
The culture piece, and what comes next
There is a different sound around this team after the horn. It is not relief, it is expectation. The Timberwolves have won five of six, and the habits look sticky. The locker room tone is steady, not wild. Veterans nod. Young guys lock in. Coaches stress film and focus. That is culture taking root, and it shows in moments like tonight.
Road games can expose a team. Tonight, they revealed one. Minnesota took a punch, then another, and answered with structure and star play. The crowd had a say. The Raptors had a say. The Timberwolves had the last word.
Conclusion
Minnesota 128, Toronto 126, and a fourth quarter that tells you who the Timberwolves want to be. Edwards closed, the defense tightened, and the group trusted each other under pressure. If this is the late-game version they carry forward, more nights will end the same way, with the ball in safe hands and the scoreboard leaning their way. 💼🏀
