Game 82: Raptors at Timberwolves!

Playoffs are coming...

• It's the final game of the regular season for the Raptors and the final game of the year for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They unveiled a Game Of Thrones themed logo, i guess in honour of the new season starting this weekend. The Raptors have bigger fish to fry however, as the post season looms in their future. Minnesota finds themselves on the outside looking in once again.
• Elsewhere in the NBA, the Nets, Magic, Hornets, Heat and Pistons are fighting for their playoff lives as the Eastern Conference standings have yet to be finalized. It also has yet to bear Toronto's first round match up
• Raptors have signed Centre Eric Moreland for the remainder of the season, rounding out their 15 man play off line up. The Timberwolves are down big for their final game. Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague, Robert Covington, Luol Deng, Jerryd Bayless and Taj Gibson are all out on this final game.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Tragically Hip - " The Dire Wolf"

The Timberwolves still have one of the best prospects from Canada on their team in Andrew Wiggins and one of the greatest Canadian bands is the Tragically Hip. In honour of their name change tonight, here is the song "The Dire Wolf" from In Violet Light by The Hip

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Minnesota Gold Lager

Brought to us by the Third Street Brewhosue, this golden lager is 4.9% and available all year round!

Raptors 2nd in East 57-24! Timberwolves 11th in West 36-44!

Game 5: Timberwolves at Raptors!

Circus Comes To Town!

• Every year there is a team who's media circus and off court issues are ten times more covered than what their product is on the court. This year it's the Minnesota Timberwolves. After Jimmy Butler reportedly asked to be traded a few of his team mates made some snarky comments through tweets. Then during a practice, Butler assembled a team of those at the end of the bench and embarrassed the rest of the starters in a game all the while taunting and shouting at team owner Glen Taylor. Butler remains a Timberwolf, for now
• Canadian and former #1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins is questionable to play tonight, he will likely be a game time decision
• Delon Wright is likely to return to the line up for the Raptors. Just another tough point guard who can make his presence felt on the defensive end as well.

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Awolnation - "Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)"

Plenty of wolf songs to pick from when Minnesota comes to town, especially around Halloween.

Awolnation are a band from LA, fronted by Aaron Bruno. They've gone 6x Platinum and have been nominated for countless awards

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Wag The Wolf

Beau's is a local craft brewery here in Ottawa, Ontario and Wag The Wolf is one of their wheat beers that has been hopped with organic New Zealand varieties to provide abundant aromas of citrus and tropical fruits

Raptors 1st in East 4-0! Timberwolves 9th in the West 2-2!

Game 49: Timberwolves at Raptors

The homestand continues as does the Black & Gold jerseys. Raptors looking for a little payback after week's loss as Minnesota comes to town

• Fred Van Vleet recently became a father. Congrats! But he will go tonight it appears. CJ Miles on the other hand is a late scratch due to some knee soreness
• Maybe in CJ's absence Norman Powell can get some minutes and make the most of them. Get some confidence back in front of the home crowd
• It's all hands on deck for the Timberwolves as no players are listed as OUT. They did play and lose in Atlanta last night so hopefully we can catch them on a back to back just like they caught us
• Also a big congrats to Dwane Casey and his coaching staff who will be heading to LA to Coach Team LeBron at the All Star Game next weekend

Tonight's Raptor Track!

The Mountain Goats - "Minnesota"

I'm not sure if the Timberwolves will be donning their flourescent green jerseys tonight or not, so just gonna pick a song with Minnesota as the title. It's The Mountain Goats from Claremont, California.and a cut from their 4th album Full Force Galesburg.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Timber Beast

From the Lazy Magnolia Brewery out of Kiln, MS. It's Timber Beast beer! Crisp & Bold caramel flavour with grapefruit and citrusy pine aroma.

Raptors 2nd in East 33-15! Timberwolves 4th in West 32-21!

Game 45: Raptors at Timberwolves!

Yeah that's right. The Raptors beat the Spurs. Deal. Toronto hits the road for another game against the Western Conference tonight as they meet the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time this year.

• As I mentioned above this is the first time the Raptors are seeing the TWolves this year. The new look Timberwolves I should say as Minnesota had a bit of an overhaul this past Summer. They added some big names like Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson.
• Much like Toronto, Minnesota is in a rare situation where they are expected to make waves in the post-season while at the same time developing their youth. Players like Karl Anthony Towns, Namenja Bjelica and Canadian phenom Andrew Wiggins are rising stars in their own right
• Likely the only player out is Fred Van Vleet for Toronto. This is going to be a tough one for the Raptors especially on a back to back after a game with the Spurs

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Kittie - "Wolves"

Kittie are a heavy metal group from London, Ontario. Originally known for having all female members, they have had a man join the group from time to time. "Wolves" is from their dark-themed, sophomore album Oracle released in 2001.

Tonight's Game Day Drink!

Minnesota Gold Lager

Minnesota is a state known for it's many craft breweries and distilleries. Minnesota Gold Lager comes from the Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring, MN.

Raptors 2nd in East 31-13! Timber Wolves 4th in West 29-18!

Game 22: Timberwolves at Huskies!

We're nationally televised tonight folks as Minnesota rolls in to town! The Raptors are also re-donning their ol' Huskies uniforms for another throwback night!

• The Timberwolves are a young team, but they've been turning heads as of late. Zach Lavine, Karl Anthony-Towns and Canada's own Andrew Wiggins are all having big games for the Wolves
• The Raptors six game win streak is over as they lost to the Cavs on Monday, but another is potentially in sight as Toronto's schedule is on the lighter side coming up, albeit on the road.
• DeMarre Carroll will play for Toronto, usually will sit on one game of a back to back and the Raptors play in Boston tomorrow night. Nikola Pekovic is out for the Timberwolves
• FORMER RAPTOR ALERT: John Lucas III is a 2nd or 3rd string PG for the Wolves. He played for the Raptors back in the 2012-2013 season. He once went 5/5 from 3 during his Raptor tenure. yep

Tonight's Raptor Track!

Metallica - "Of Wolf & Man"

Ah so good. This song is actually about werewolves I think, but basketball players are men and one team is called the TimberWOLVES. So this game is of wolf and man as well! And Metallica is the best band in the world!

Raptors 2nd in East 14-7! Timberwolves 13th in West 6-15!

Game at 7pm (ET)