Timberwolves’ failure north of border continues with loss to Raptors

Wolves reserve Nickeil Alexander-Walker started in his one return this season to his hometown. Starting point guard Mike Conley was out due to a left toe sprain, so Alexander-Walker started in Conley’s place alongside Edwards, Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

Without a real point guard and with Alexander-Walker made a starter, the Wolves bench was outscored 34-15.

Alexander-Walker burst to the basket in the game’s opening seconds for a driving layup that he missed long. But he was impressed with his hustle and energy getting that start back in his hometown.

With Conley out, rookie Rob Dillingham came off the bench for him, showing both his playmaking and his speed getting to the basket.

Wolves forward Julius Randle followed Sunday afternoon’s buzzer-beating heroics that beat Phoenix by scoring 14 of his 23 points in the first half, seven of them made on 10 free-throw attempts.

The Wolves trailed 32-27 after a quarter, 52-51 at halftime and led 79-77 after three quarters on a night when the Raptors pounded and pushed the ball looking for points in the paint, just as they have all season. They had 30 there already for half time.