Toronto concludes a three-game homestand on Saturday night by hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves, who remain without injured former No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns and now might be without another one. The Raptors are 9.5-point favourites on the NBA odds. Note that it is the front end of a back-to-back.

Timberwolves vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

Minnesota tries for the season sweep as it beat the visiting Raptors 128-126 on Jan. 19 despite trailing by 14 midway through the fourth quarter. Toronto scored just seven points in the final 9:46. D’Angelo Russell scored 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter for the Wolves, but he is now with the LA Lakers. Anthony Edwards had 23 points, and Kyle Anderson 20 points and 10 boards.

The Wolves were not only without Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been out for months and remains so, but also three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. The Raptors scored 62 points in the paint without Gobert to protect the rim and added 23 fast-break points. Scottie Barnes had 29 points to lead the Raptors, and Fred VanVleet had 25 points and 10 assists. OG Anunoby’s three-point try with 0.4 seconds remaining was off the mark.

Toronto leads the all-time series 36-17 and is 23-4 as the home team – winning the past 17 at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors are 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The opening spread for this game was Toronto -6.5, but it has jumped three points because Minnesota was dragged to double overtime on Friday in Chicago, losing 139-131 – the team’s fourth defeat in the past five games – and because All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, a former No. 1 overall pick, left with a sprained right ankle in the first quarter. Edwards (24.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.4 apg) most likely won’t play here. That would mean more time for Toronto native Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who had 12 points off the bench in Chicago. Minnesota is 7-4 straight up this season in the second of a back-to-back and has covered the past five.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto didn’t allow itself to be caught in a trap game Thursday at home vs. Oklahoma City, routing the Thunder 128-111 for a second straight win overall and sixth in a row at home. The Thunder are not good defensively and Toronto shot 48.5 per cent overall and 14-for-32 from deep. The Raptors outrebounded OKC by 20 with a season-high 59 boards and had 23 fast-break points to the Thunder’s six. Pascal Siakam had 25 points with 14 rebounds, eight assists, and Gary Trent Jr. broke out of a slump with 23 points. Jakob Poeltl had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double. He is averaging 15.0 points and 11.0 rebounds during that run and his career-best such streak is four double-doubles in a row. The Raptors had a season-high six players finish with 15-or-more points Thursday. Backup centre Christian Koloko suffered a fractured nose in the game and is questionable Saturday. The Dinos are 6-2 ATS in their past eight Saturday games.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Timberwolves vs. Raptors?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Timberwolves Team Leaders

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 24.63
Assists	Mike Conley 5
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 11.63
FG%	Rudy Gobert 65.9
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.58
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.36

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.23
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.17
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.12
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.2
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.91
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.31

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 31.6
Assists	Mike Conley 6.4
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.2
FG%	Rudy Gobert 63
Steals	Josh Minott 2
Blocks	Anthony Edwards 2

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Raptors Team Leaders

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 24.63
Assists	Mike Conley 5
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 11.63
FG%	Rudy Gobert 65.9
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.58
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.36

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.23
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.17
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.12
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.2
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.91
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.31

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 31.6
Assists	Mike Conley 6.4
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.2
FG%	Rudy Gobert 63
Steals	Josh Minott 2
Blocks	Anthony Edwards 2

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Minnesota

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 24 / 04 / 23

Kyle Anderson (SF)

Out Tues Eye - 24 / 04 / 23

Josh Minott (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 22 / 04 / 23

Josh Minott (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 21 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 20 / 04 / 23

Rudy Gobert (C)

Prob Fri Back - 20 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 18 / 04 / 23

Rudy Gobert (C)

Prob Wed Back - 18 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 15 / 04 / 23

Toronto

O.G. Anunoby (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 08 / 04 / 23

Precious Achiuwa (PF)

Prob Tues Illness - 04 / 04 / 23

O.G. Anunoby (SF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23

Will Barton (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 26 / 03 / 23

Precious Achiuwa (PF)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Wed Back - 22 / 03 / 23

Joe Wieskamp (SG)

Out indefinitely Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23

Christian Koloko (C)

Ques Sat Nose - 16 / 03 / 23

Dalano Banton (SF)

Prob Sun Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23

Injuries

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 24 / 04 / 23	1-1	1-0-1	+ -
Nowell is dealing with left knee tendinopathy, but it is not expected to impact his availability versus the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Kyle Anderson (SF)	Out Tues	Eye - 24 / 04 / 23	1-1	1-0-1	+ -
Anderson is nursing an eye injury, and he will not dress for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Josh Minott (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Minott is hindered by a left ankle sprain, but it is expected that he will partake in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 22 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Nowell has tendinopathy in his left knee, but it is likely that he will lace up for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Josh Minott (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 21 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Minott is hindered by a left ankle sprain, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 20 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell has tendinopathy in his left knee, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Prob Fri	Back - 20 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Gobert is dealing with back spams, but it is anticipated that he will face the Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell is tending to left knee tendinopathy, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Prob Wed	Back - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Gobert is dealing with back spams, but he is expected to face the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 15 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell is tending to left knee tendinopathy, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
O.G. Anunoby (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Anunoby is dealing with right ankle soreness, but he is expected to be available against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 08 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
VanVleet is nursing left thumb soreness, but it is anticipated that he will face the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
Precious Achiuwa (PF)	Prob Tues	Illness - 04 / 04 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Achiuwa has an illness, but it is projected that he will take on the Hornets on Tuesday.
O.G. Anunoby (SF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Anunoby exited the previous contest with a mild ankle sprain, but it will not affect his status for Tuesday's contest versus the Hornets.
Will Barton (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 26 / 03 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
Barton has been absent from the last three games with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to return against the Hornets in Tuesday's clash.
Precious Achiuwa (PF)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Achiuwa has sat out the last two contests with right hamstring tightness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's tilt versus the Wizards.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Wed	Back - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Trent Jr. has missed the last two games due to back spasms, but it is expected that he will suit up Wednesday against the Celtics.
Joe Wieskamp (SG)	Out indefinitely	Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Wieskamp is out of the lineup with a right hamstring strain, and he will miss an undetermined amount of time.
Christian Koloko (C)	Ques Sat	Nose - 16 / 03 / 23	9-4	8-6	+ -
Koloko exited the previous contest with a fractured nose, leaving his status for Saturday's tilt with the Timberwolves cloudy.
Dalano Banton (SF)	Prob Sun	Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23	9-5	9-6	+ -
Banton has been sidelined due to a left thumb sprain, but it is predicted that he will return to face the Hornets in Sunday's tilt.