The Timberwolves head to Target Center to take on the Toronto Raptors in their home opener. Can the Wolves build on the momentum of their victory over the Kings for the season’s first winning streak?
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors
Date: October 26th, 2024
Time: 7:00PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio
Alright, Wolves Nation, the home opener is here, and after a two-game California road swing, the Timberwolves are finally coming back to the Great North. They’re set to take on the Toronto Raptors at the Target Center, and it’s safe to say we’re ready for some basketball in Minnesota. The first two games of the season definitely gave us a lot to digest. There was the clunky, disjointed loss to the Lakers that had all the rhythm of a middle school band recital, followed by a heart-pounding comeback against the Kings that reminded everyone just how explosive this team can be.
Let’s start with the bad: the Lakers game. Man, that was rough. The Wolves came out looking like they were still shaking off the jet lag. The offense couldn’t get into a flow, and the defense had more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. Rebounding? Forget about it. Anthony Davis had his way down low, and the Wolves got bullied on the boards early on, leading to their large deficit. It was the kind of game that made you wonder if the offseason moves were really going to pan out.
But Thursday night in Sacramento was a different story. The Kings’ home opener had all the makings of another Wolves letdown—packed house, hyped-up crowd, and a feisty Sacramento squad ready to light the beam. Instead, Minnesota bounced back with the kind of grit and explosiveness that made you believe the offseason hype wasn’t just smoke and mirrors. Down by double digits in the third quarter, the Wolves dug deep, rallied back, and pulled out a 117-115 thriller.
And let’s not bury the lede here: Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards went off. Both players dropped 30-plus points, and it was like watching a WWE tag team trading haymakers in the fourth quarter. Edwards was all over the place—attacking the rim, draining threes, making clutch defensive stops. Randle, after a lackluster debut in LA, finally showed why Tim Connelly was so high on bringing him in. He played with that chip on his shoulder that the Wolves will need if they’re going to make a serious run in the West.
For those of you who felt some buyer’s remorse about the Karl-Anthony Towns trade after Randle and Donte DiVincenzo’s shaky performances against the Lakers, Thursday night in Sacramento should have you rethinking things. That game showed the kind of ceiling this team can reach when everything clicks. And yes, I know it’s early, but you can already sense there’s a different vibe with this group. The chemistry isn’t all the way there yet, and there are still plenty of kinks for Chris Finch to work out, but the potential is obvious.
Coming Home to the Target Center
Now, it’s time for the Wolves to bring that energy back home as they face the Toronto Raptors. On paper, this should be a favorable matchup. The Raptors aren’t exactly setting the league on fire, and they don’t have the kind of firepower that can go toe-to-toe with Minnesota. But before we get ahead of ourselves and start chalking this up as an easy W, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane to last year’s season opener in Toronto. Remember that? The Wolves walked into Scotiabank Arena expecting to cruise, only to get punched in the mouth by a gritty Raptors squad that refused to back down.
Let’s not forget, this is still the NBA, where any team can catch fire on a given night, especially one with a chip on its shoulder like Toronto. The Raptors may not be contenders, but they’re not just going to roll over, either. The Wolves need to bring the same intensity that carried them through that wild comeback in Sacramento.
The Big Three and Bench Questions
The good news is that the injury report looks clean, and the Wolves should be at full strength. This will be the first time this season that fans at the Target Center will get to see the new-look lineup in action, and there’s reason to be excited. Randle and DiVincenzo will get to show the hometown crowd what they’re capable of, while Edwards looks to build on what’s already shaping up to be a breakout year.
I’m also curious to see how the bench rotation plays out. Chris Finch has some decisions to make with the second unit. It’s going to be crucial for this team to get consistent production from the bench, particularly in games where Edwards or Randle aren’t going nuclear.
The Road Ahead
This game isn’t just about getting the first win in the Target Center; it’s about setting the tone for the rest of the season. The Wolves can’t afford to fall into a pattern of inconsistency. They need to establish their identity as a team that’s going to grind on defense, move the ball on offense, and hit the glass hard every single night. With heavy hitters like Dallas and Denver looming on the schedule, this home opener against the Raptors is the perfect opportunity to build momentum and give the fans something to cheer about.
There’s a lot of basketball left to be played, but this feels like a moment where the Wolves can start to make a statement. It’s not just about putting on a show for the home crowd; it’s about proving that this year is going to be different. That all the hype and the offseason moves weren’t just window dressing. That Anthony Edwards is ready to ascend into superstardom. That Julius Randle isn’t just a replacement for Karl-Anthony Towns, but an upgrade who fits better alongside the rising star in Edwards.
So, strap in, Wolves fans. The home opener is here, and it’s time to see if this team can live up to the promise that we’ve all been waiting for. Let’s get the Target Center rocking, get that first W on the board, and set the stage for what could be a very special season.