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GAME #71 - TORONTO RAPTORS (34-36) vs. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (35-35)
TEAM NOTES
• The Toronto Raptors play the first half of a back-to-back set (Mar. 18-19) Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday night to continue their season-high six-game home winning streak (Feb. 12 - Mar. 16). Toronto will play five of their next six games (Mar. 18-28) at home. The Raptors will complete this back-to-back Sunday night in Milwaukee.
• Jakob Poeltl posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes Thursday night against Oklahoma City for his third consecutive double-double (Mar. 10-16). Poeltl is averaging 15.0 points and 11.0 rebounds during this stretch. The longest double-double streak in Poeltl's career is four straight games (2X - last: Oct. 22-28, 2022).
• Toronto set a season high with 59 rebounds Thursday night against the Thunder, leading to a +20 (59-39) advantage on the glass. The Raptors also outrebounded Oklahoma City 19-11 (+8) on the offensive end. Toronto currently ranks second in the league in both offensive rebounding (12.8) and second-chance points (16.6). Jakob Poeltl ranks third among all NBA players in offensive rebounds per game (3.3).
• The Raptors had a season-high six players finish with 15-or-more points Thursday night against the Thunder (Siakam - 25, Trent Jr. - 23, Barnes - 19, VanVleet - 19, Anunoby - 17, Poeltl - 16). Toronto is the only team in the NBA this season with five players averaging 15+ points (Siakam - 24.2, VanVleet - 19.4, Trent Jr. - 17.7, Anunoby - 16.7, Barnes - 15.7). The Raptors are currently on pace to become just the second team in the last 49 years to have five-or-more players average 15+ points in a season (minimum 70% games played).
• Tonight marks the second and final meeting between Toronto and Minnesota this season. The Timberwolves won the first match up 128-126 in Minnesota back on Jan. 19. The Raptors shot .529 (46-87) from the field and .500 (14-28) from three-point range in that contest. Toronto has shot 50 percent or better from the field in four of the last six games (Mar. 4-16), averaging .486 (269-554) in that span.
• The Raptors are 23-4 all-time against the Timberwolves at home, and have won 17 straight games against Minnesota at Scotiabank Arena dating back to December 2004. *excluding 2020-21 season played in Tampa.
• O.G. Anunoby is averaging a team-high 20.4 points over the last five games (Mar. 6-16), shooting .691 (38-55) from the field and .581 (18-31) from three-point range in that stretch. Anunoby's 18 made three-pointers in this span is tied for the second most in his career over a five-game span, trailing only the 20 three-pointers he made from Jan. 16-24, 2021.
• Pascal Siakam is averaging career highs of 24.2 points and 5.9 assists, along with 7.7 rebounds in 60 games this season. Siakam is averaging 20+ points for the fourth straight season (2019-23), the longest streak by a Raptor since DeMar DeRozan (5; 2013-18). Siakam (2021-22) is the only player in franchise history to average 20/8/5 over a season.
TEAM NOTES
• The Toronto Raptors play the first half of a back-to-back set (Mar. 18-19) Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday night to continue their season-high six-game home winning streak (Feb. 12 - Mar. 16). Toronto will play five of their next six games (Mar. 18-28) at home. The Raptors will complete this back-to-back Sunday night in Milwaukee.
• Jakob Poeltl posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes Thursday night against Oklahoma City for his third consecutive double-double (Mar. 10-16). Poeltl is averaging 15.0 points and 11.0 rebounds during this stretch. The longest double-double streak in Poeltl's career is four straight games (2X - last: Oct. 22-28, 2022).
• Toronto set a season high with 59 rebounds Thursday night against the Thunder, leading to a +20 (59-39) advantage on the glass. The Raptors also outrebounded Oklahoma City 19-11 (+8) on the offensive end. Toronto currently ranks second in the league in both offensive rebounding (12.8) and second-chance points (16.6). Jakob Poeltl ranks third among all NBA players in offensive rebounds per game (3.3).
• The Raptors had a season-high six players finish with 15-or-more points Thursday night against the Thunder (Siakam - 25, Trent Jr. - 23, Barnes - 19, VanVleet - 19, Anunoby - 17, Poeltl - 16). Toronto is the only team in the NBA this season with five players averaging 15+ points (Siakam - 24.2, VanVleet - 19.4, Trent Jr. - 17.7, Anunoby - 16.7, Barnes - 15.7). The Raptors are currently on pace to become just the second team in the last 49 years to have five-or-more players average 15+ points in a season (minimum 70% games played).
• Tonight marks the second and final meeting between Toronto and Minnesota this season. The Timberwolves won the first match up 128-126 in Minnesota back on Jan. 19. The Raptors shot .529 (46-87) from the field and .500 (14-28) from three-point range in that contest. Toronto has shot 50 percent or better from the field in four of the last six games (Mar. 4-16), averaging .486 (269-554) in that span.
• The Raptors are 23-4 all-time against the Timberwolves at home, and have won 17 straight games against Minnesota at Scotiabank Arena dating back to December 2004. *excluding 2020-21 season played in Tampa.
• O.G. Anunoby is averaging a team-high 20.4 points over the last five games (Mar. 6-16), shooting .691 (38-55) from the field and .581 (18-31) from three-point range in that stretch. Anunoby's 18 made three-pointers in this span is tied for the second most in his career over a five-game span, trailing only the 20 three-pointers he made from Jan. 16-24, 2021.
• Pascal Siakam is averaging career highs of 24.2 points and 5.9 assists, along with 7.7 rebounds in 60 games this season. Siakam is averaging 20+ points for the fourth straight season (2019-23), the longest streak by a Raptor since DeMar DeRozan (5; 2013-18). Siakam (2021-22) is the only player in franchise history to average 20/8/5 over a season.
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