Minnesota Timberwolves centre Karl-Anthony Towns (32) stretches out to shoot the ball against Toronto Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Minneapolis. The Wolves won 117-112.Stacy Bengs/The Associated Press
Karl-Anthony Towns had 35 points and 11 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves came back from 18 points down to stun the Toronto Raptors 117-112 on Wednesday night.
Canadian star Andrew Wiggins scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including a jumper with under 2 minutes to go that gave Minnesota a 112-109 lead. Ricky Rubio had 19 points, eight assists and eight rebounds to outplay All-Star Kyle Lowry, and the Wolves used a huge advantage at the free throw line to close out a team that had won 14 of its last 15 games.
DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points for the Raptors, who head home to host All-Star Weekend beginning on Friday night. But Lowry was held to 14 points and seven assists while battling foul trouble, and the combination of Wiggins and Towns was too much down the stretch.
Minnesota set season highs with 43 free throws made on 53 attempts on the way to its largest comeback win of the season. The Raptors were whistled for 34 fouls compared to 21 for the Wolves.
The Raptors looked to be cruising toward a highly anticipated weekend in Canada when they raced out to an 18-point lead in the second quarter. Then Lowry picked up his fourth foul, Jonas Valanciunas couldn't handle Towns in the paint and the Timberwolves came all the way back to grab the lead early in the fourth quarter.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey emphasized before the game the need for a veteran group to hold it together for one more night before the party starts in Toronto. The Raptors were facing a Timberwolves team with the third-worst record in the West that was just blown out by lowly New Orleans in this building two nights prior.
When the Raptors got up big early, they may have relaxed a little bit and they found themselves in a fight for the final 9 minutes.
Rubio's third 3-pointer gave the Timberwolves a 104-98 lead with 5:24 to play.
The Raptors fought back to tie the game with under 3 minutes to play, but Wiggins hit big shot after big shot a day before heading back to his hometown to play in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night.
Gorgui Dieng had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and all five Timberwolves starters finished in double figures.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Their 68 points were their most in a first half this season. ... Bismack Biyombo left in the second quarter after a nasty spill under the basket but was able to return in the second half. ... The Raptors made 10 of 31 3-pointers to just 4 of 14 for Minnesota.
Timberwolves: F Tayshaun Prince missed the game to attend former teammate Chauncey Billups' jersey retirement ceremony in Detroit. ... Zach LaVine started in Prince's place and finished with 13 points. ... The Wolves again played without Kevin Garnett (leg), Nikola Pekovic (ankle) and Kevin Martin (wrist).
UP NEXT
Raptors: Visit Chicago on Feb. 19.
Timberwolves: Visit Memphis on Feb. 19.