Minnesota’s third-quarter surge decides the home opener
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Toronto Raptors 117–94 at Target Center on Sunday, October 25, US time. The home-opening victory moved Minnesota to 3–0 and handed Toronto its first loss of the season.
The decisive separation came immediately after halftime. Minnesota outscored Toronto 35–15 in the third quarter, extending an eight-point halftime lead to 90–62. The Raptors remained behind by double digits throughout the fourth.
Edwards made 10 of his 18 field-goal attempts. LaMelo Ball added 15 points and eight assists, Terrence Shannon Jr. supplied 15 points off the bench, and Jaden McDaniels scored 14. That spread of production allowed Minnesota to maintain pressure beyond its leading scorer.
The Timberwolves began the second half with a 22–6 run. Ball opened the sequence with a layup, while McDaniels and Joan Beringer contributed as the advantage grew. Toronto had reduced the margin before halftime, but the restart removed that momentum.
Ja'Kobe Walter led the Raptors with 22 points. RJ Barrett scored 20 and Immanuel Quickley added 19. Scottie Barnes did not score, missing all 12 of his field-goal attempts, and Toronto was without Kawhi Leonard because of swelling in his left knee.
Minnesota shot 55.8 percent from the field and made 15 of 31 three-pointers. Toronto finished at 38.5 percent overall and 10 of 38 from distance. Those gaps help explain why an eight-point game became a 23-point final margin.
The result left Toronto at 2–1. Minnesota's opening three games have all produced victories by more than 20 points, but this remains an early sample. Sunday's most concrete takeaway was the balance between Edwards' efficient scoring and the supporting contributions that sustained the third-quarter run.