Minnesota at Toronto 7pm ET

Okay guys, here it is, a game that that you should win to keep a little run going. These are the games that turn three game winning streaks into possibly seven or eight games. The Raps need a run like that to try and put some distance between them and the Cavs and maybe catch the Magic.

Tonight’s game is against a weak Timberwolves team but don’t be fooled. This team will bite you in the ass if you don’t bring the A-game.

Many players have helped Toronto build a three-year run of dominance against the Timberwolves. Contributions from a variety of sources are now keeping the Raptors among the Eastern Conference’s top teams.

Following another outstanding performance from their reserves, the Raptors will try to extend a seven-game winning streak against the T-Wolves when the teams play at the ACC tonight.

Toronto hasn’t lost to Minnesota since 2004. The Raptors won the first game between the teams the following season, and haven’t lost since.

Toronto has used a different starting lineup in each of its seven games during its run against Minnesota, including a 105-82 win on Feb. 10 in the teams’ first meeting this season.

It was one of the best games the Raptors have gotten from their bench this season, led by Carlos Delfino’s 23 points and T.J. Ford’s 16. In fourth place in the East, Toronto will continue to look to its bench down the stretch of a grueling regular season.

The Raptors seemed happiest with T.J. Ford’s performance against the Pacers on Monday. The speedy guard added seven assists in 26 minutes and his jumper is returning to form. He played two more minutes than starter Jose Calderon and was in the game the entire fourth quarter.

Raptors coach Sam Mitchell insists there’s no controversy at point guard and both Ford and Calderon are saying the same thing.

The only person that is stirring up trouble is that loud mouth from Washington. Yep Gilbert Arenas decided to type again and once again he comes off sounding so stupid.

To All You Jose Calderon Fans and Commenters
You know what, I’m sorry Canadian fans, I didn’t realize you guys do not have a sense of humor. I didn’t realize that you don’t like to laugh up in Canada. And Calderon isn’t even Canadian! I could see if I said something bad about Steve Nash, but Calderon is not a Canadian, he’s a Spaniard. All the comments I got from Spain, that’s OK, I can understand why you were mad at me. But Canada?

You’re loyal fans, but it’s not like I said anything bad, I just said he wasn’t an All-Star. I said he played great basketball. He’s playing great basketball while he’s filling in for T.J. Ford who is the starter. So he is the backup point guard. You know? He’s doing very well for himself, he’s going to get paid money this year.

At the end of the day, the Raptors might not even have him next year, so if I was a Toronto fan I wouldn’t get mad or upset right now. Calderon might be somewhere else.

He’s playing great. Over the years you can see his development as a player, and he’s really playing well. T.J. might lose that spot to him, but I don’t know. Who knows? As a backup or as a starter right now, he’s playing great basketball.

I watched Calderon last week and he had a really good game. You can take him out of being a backup. He’s a starter now, he’s a starter in this league. You know what? With Jason Kidd gone and if Calderon plays how he’s playing next year and they’re winning in Toronto and he’s still the starter? He might have a shot at being an All-Star, he might have a crack at it.”

All I can say Gilbert is I hope we see you in the playoffs but sadly your team won’t make it because when you come back the team will fall out of the race.The Wolves, meanwhile, have been getting mediocre play from point guard Sebastian Telfair. It’s Minnesota big man Al Jefferson that will give Toronto the most trouble, but the Raptors match up well with Bosh in the middle.

Jefferson and Rashad McCants scored 22 points, Randy Foye added a season-high 20, and Minnesota beat Utah 111-100 on Tuesday night.

This I am sure opened the Raptors eyes and maybe is the best thing that could of happened.

I think the Raptors will actually come out with something to prove and play hard right from the start. I want to say it will be a blowout but I think Minny will keep it close.

Raptors will win 107-99 before a pizza hungry crowd at the ACC.

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