Raptors and Timberwolves Continue Struggles

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a narrow defeat to the Boston Celtics, despite strong performance from Jayson Tatum, who scored 33 points, leading the Celtics to a 25-9 season record. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors' struggles continued as they extended their losing streak to ten games, highlighted by a 136-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Raptors' defensive issues were further exposed in an earlier 155-126 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, where injuries and a lack of defensive presence, notably the absence of Jakob Poeltl, compounded their woes. Scottie Barnes’ injuries have significantly impacted the team's performance, and Ochai Agbaji has emerged as a notable defender in Barnes' absence. The Raptors are in a rebuilding phase, facing challenges in defensive efficiency and frequent fouling, ranking low in opponent free-throw rate. Both teams have a chance to regroup in upcoming games, with the Timberwolves facing the Detroit Pistons and the Raptors heading to Boston to play the Celtics.