Minneapolis, MN (My Sportsbook) - Joey Graham posted 24 points and Jermaine O'Neal added 22 points and eight rebounds, as the
Toronto Raptors snapped a six-game losing streak with a 110-102 victory over the
Minnesota Timberwolves.
Both teams were without their marquee players, as Toronto's Chris Bosh missed his third straight game with a sprained right knee, and Minnesota played its first of many games without forward/center Al Jefferson, who tore the ACL in his right knee in Sunday's game against New Orleans and will miss the remainder of the season.
Andrea Bargnani and Jason Kapono deposited 18 points apiece, while Jamario Moon and Jose Calderon each scored 11 in the Raptors' ninth straight win over Minnesota.
"We're a lot better team when we move the ball and get everybody involved," O'Neal said.
Randy Foye logged a career-high 33 points to lead the T-Wolves, while Kevin Love compiled 15 points and 11 rebounds in the club's seventh loss in eight games.
"We're upset because we felt as though we're a better team than them, even without Al [Jefferson]," Foye said. "If we could've gotten a couple of stops here and there, that could've been our game."
Kapono's four-point play to open the fourth quarter got the Raptors offense flowing, as a 12-2 run midway through the frame had the visitors ahead 98-91.
The margin was six points in favor of Toronto after two free throws with 1 1/2 minutes left by Foye, who missed a layup in transition on the ensuing possession that could have cut the deficit even further.
O'Neal got in the lane at the other end and put in a basket, and Calderon's four free throws in the final 30 seconds polished off the Raptors victory.
Toronto jumped out to a 23-16 lead after the first, though Minnesota climbed back to lead 48-41 at the break.
The teams played virtually even in the third, which ended with the T-Wolves up 80-73.
Game Notes
Bosh was ruled out of the All-Star game this weekend and was replaced on the roster by Cleveland guard Mo Williams on Tuesday...Timberwolves guard Rashad McCants missed the game because of illness...Calderon had nine assists, while Moon pulled down a team-high nine boards...Ryan Gomes scored 17 points for the Wolves, who got 12 apiece from Rodney Carney and Mike Miller.
