Timberwolves begin home schedule with wire-to-wire victory over Raptors

The Timberwolves’ starting lineup was on the floor for the first 5 minutes, 34 seconds of the team’s 112-101 victory over Toronto. It was also together at the start of the third quarter for 5:50, and in those stretches, the starting unit played its best basketball of the young season.

The Wolves raced out to a 17-5 lead before coach Chris Finch made a substitution. That double-digit lead set the tone for a comfortable win, despite some sloppy play late, against a shorthanded Toronto team that was without RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Bruce Brown.

Then in the third quarter, the Wolves extended a 12-point lead to 20 before Finch made the first sub of the second half. In those times, the starting lineup showed glimpses of what it could be after a wobbly start to the season on the West Coast.

After three games, the starting lineup has played 44 minutes together and has a plus minus of zero. Those two shifts together on Saturday did a lot to make up for the minus-14 the starters had entering the night. The unit didn’t close the game particularly strong; Toronto cut the lead to 104-96 with 2:44 to play thanks to some questionable decisions and loss of focus, but the night was overall an encouraging one for the lineup combination the Wolves need to work best.

Julius Randle (9-for-16) and Anthony Edwards (9-for-21) each had 24 points while Rudy Gobert wouldn’t let the Wolves lose this one with 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, which included two on one possession.

“It looks like it’s starting to come together,” Finch said. “Things that I can see that maybe we can lean into are starting to form a little bit. We got to keep doing it particularly when it matters most, but it was good for those guys.”

Finch said the early decision-making in the offense and spacing around Randle has improved since opening night against the Lakers, and that Gobert’s spacing around Randle has had to change from the way the team spaced around Karl-Anthony Towns the last two seasons. Gobet said he has to be more cognizant of Randle’s ability to drive.

“I try to be in a spot where I’m not in his way,” Gobert said. “Also he’s able to to find me if my man helps, or if someone collapses, find the shooter. ...We gotta get a long way to go, but it’s fun. It’s fun to watch him work, and he’s a very good passer, too, so he’s gonna be able to find his teammates most of the time.”

Randle’s ability to cut also opened up some options in the offense. That was something Finch emphasized to him after Randle didn’t move without the ball as much in the loss to the Lakers. Randle was able to get some easy buckets at the rim this way on Saturday.

“That’s something that I felt coming in that I could really add,” Randle said. “When I played for Finchy in New Orleans, I feel like that year I was a great cutter. I feel like it’s just selfless, even if I score or not. Just creating lanes for Ant to get downhill and Rudy to roll. ... I feel like that can be a big part of my game.”

BOXSCORE: Wolves 112, Toronto 101

They are also figuring out how best to utilize Jaden McDaniels in the context of this new-look offense. Before the game, Finch said McDaniels’ opportunities would come, but the starters were still figuring things out and he might have to wait his turn. That was underlined in the first half when McDaniels didn’t attempt a shot. He came out in the second half and sparked that run that put the Wolves up 20 with all nine of his points on the night. He finished 4-for-5 from the field.

“We know how he is on the defensive end, but he’s extremely talented offensively too,” Randle said. “... We got to make sure that we get Jaden involved too because he’s a threat out there. He’s another weapon on our team that we got to make sure we’re maximizing.”

Through three games, the Wolves’ starting lineup is like a set of weapons the team isn’t full maximizing. There’s McDaniels’ lack of offensive opportunities while Mike Conley is 5-for-25 in the first three games. On the plus side for the Wolves, Randle followed up his strong night in Sacramento with another good game and Saturday was the best they have looked, even if it wasn’t perfect.