Game Thread: Raptors vs. Timberwolves updates, TV info, and more

The Raptors won easily last night against the Wizards, which felt nice because boo Washington but also because it meant another chance for the team to get a little more comfortable together once again. That they’ll re-adding Fred VanVleet to the mix tonight, one of the Raptors’ two super savvy guards, just makes this feeling all the better. Toronto is back and, ideally, it only goes up from here.

The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are still the Timberwolves, and everything that implies. They’ve made the playoffs once since 2005 — the one season they had legit winner Jimmy Butler — and are still swimming in a morass of their own making. This despite amassing multiple top draft picks, including a pair of number ones, and doing (apparently) everything they could to make it work. Folks, it has and continues to not work. But the recently injured Karl-Anthony Towns, the lynchpin to the whole idea, is back on the court for Minnesota, and he promises to be a load for Toronto.

Still, are we worried? Even with the snow building outside, and, yes, the perceived threat of Towns and his Canadian wingmate Andrew Wiggins, we are not worried. The Raptors are whole again, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Oh, and also, let’s catch up on the full preview here and the updated game details below. And then, let’s watch.

Where to Watch

Sportsnet One, 8pm EST

Lineups

Toronto — Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol

Minnesota — Jarrett Culver, Andrew Wiggins, Robert Covington, Shabazz Napier, Karl-Anthony Towns

Injuries

Toronto — Dewan Hernandez (ankle - out)

Minnesota — Jake Layman (left toe - out)