The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Toronto Raptors 117-94 on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Target Center, extending their perfect start to the season to three wins behind 26 points from Anthony Edwards and a dominant bench performance.
The home opener in Minneapolis delivered a stark reality check for a visiting Toronto squad that arrived unbeaten but left with an emphatic defeat. Anthony Edwards paced the Minnesota Timberwolves with a game-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, cementing his early-season rhythm after scoring 85 points through his first three contests. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors found themselves unraveling early against an aggressive Minnesota defense that dictated the pace from the opening tip.
Scottie Barnes Shutout Exposes Toronto Offensive Stagnation
The afternoon turned nightmarish for Toronto forward Scottie Barnes, who endured an offensive drought. Barnes failed to convert a single field goal, finishing 0-for-12 from the floor with zero points in a rough outing. After averaging strong numbers and driving heavily during the 2026 playoffs, Barnes was largely relegated to shooting over towering defenders as Minnesota collapsed the paint.
Hopefully this is an early-season wakeup call for the Raptors. Minnesota is a really good team and they didn't have Kawhi, but they're gonna need to beat really good teams without Kawhi (or at least compete harder/better than that). Starts with Scottie and extends to the rest.
That inability to penetrate or find clean looks stalled the entire Raptors attack. While RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Ja’Kobe Walter tried to pick up the slack—with Walter contributing 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting—the team could not overcome the complete absence of production from its focal point. Toronto Raptors staff face immediate questions regarding how Barnes fits within the current system as opposing defenses gear up to deny his drives. Playing in their first game without Kawhi Leonard—who missed the contest as he continues ramping up after turning 35—the team sorely missed his veteran presence and shot-creation. Leonard had labored through early appearances, shooting 7-for-20 and scoring 16 points against Washington while managing predictable rust from minimal preseason floor time and handling reduced playmaking responsibilities.
LaMelo Ball and Minnesota Bench Ignite the Target Center
Even when foul trouble threatened Minnesota’s rotation early on, the home team’s depth proved insurmountable. LaMelo Ball picked up his second foul just two minutes into the contest, forcing head coach adjustments that brought immediate dividends from the reserves. Ayo Dosunmu stepped into primary playmaking duties to keep the offense moving smoothly, chipping in nine points and three assists while reinforcing his value as a core piece following his trade deadline acquisition.
LaMelo, this stepback 3 was TOUGH 😮💨Ant's reaction 💯The Timberwolves improve to 3-0! pic.twitter.com/mfG54yLcR9
Terrence Shannon finished with 15 points on a pristine 5-for-6 shooting night, including three makes from beyond the arc. Ball eventually returned to orchestrate the floor effectively, contributing 15 points, eight assists, and two steals in 17 minutes of action. With Ball orchestrating, Minnesota shot 22-of-29 from the floor during his minutes on the court.
Defensive Clamping and Rebounding Vulnerabilities Highlighted
Minnesota’s defensive identity was unmistakable as the hosts held the Raptors to a meager 38% from the field and just 26% from three-point range. Rudy Gobert anchored the interior, notching his second consecutive double-digit rebounding performance of the young campaign. Jaden McDaniels also joined the defensive charge alongside Gobert, helping stifle Toronto’s perimeter efforts.
Yet the game also exposed a lingering weakness for the victors. Whenever Gobert rested on the bench, the Timberwolves struggled mightily on the boards.
Upcoming Schedules for Both Franchises
With the 117-94 victory safely in hand, the Timberwolves secured their eleventh consecutive home opener win—the sixth-longest streak in NBA history, trailing only the Portland Trail Blazers (18 from 2001-18), Boston Celtics (14 from 1979-92), San Antonio Spurs (13 from 2009-21), and previous franchise stretches by Boston (12 from 1957-68) and Minnesota themselves (12 from 1995-2006). This milestone marked the fourth time in franchise history Minnesota opened a year 3-0, matching starts from 2001-02, 2013-14, and 2019-20. Toronto aims to regroup and recalibrate its offensive sets before its next test as the early-season schedule intensifies.
That 3-0 feeling 🗣️Anthony Edwards (26 PTS) & LaMelo Ball (15 PTS, 8 AST) are FIRED UP after helping the @Timberwolves win their 11th consecutive home opener, and become the 3rd team in NBA history to win their first 3 games of the season by 20+ PTS! pic.twitter.com/nJoAOr8uEX
More on Toronto Raptors
The Kawhi Leonard-less Toronto Raptors suffer an incredibly humbling loss to the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves on the road, 117-94.The road to 81-1 continues …Updated Raptors record:@Ozoon_CA pic.twitter.com/CXo6YkRA9j
