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Raptors-Timberwolves Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON

STATS Writer

(AP) -- In pursuit of one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors would seem to catch a break with no teams above .500 remaining on their schedule.

The Raptors, though, will also have to play most of those games on the road, where they've struggled mightily.

Toronto goes for a rare road victory Wednesday night by continuing its dominance over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Raptors (44-30) moved one game behind Chicago for third in the East and three ahead of fifth-place Washington with Monday's 99-96 win over Houston. DeMar DeRozan led the way with a career-high 42 points and matched a personal best with 11 rebounds after scoring six in a 94-83 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

The Raptors also held back-to-back opponents to less than 100 points for the first time since their first two back from the All-Star break. They gave up an average of 106.1 points over the final 10 games of a 5-13 stretch that ended last Wednesday.

"Our whole theme from here on out is going to be defense," coach Dwane Casey said. "We're going to score enough points. We'll find a way to score. ... We've got to make sure we continue to improve defensively.

"The defense we play is the most important thing because that's going to get us ready for the stretch run and the playoffs."

The Raptors next face the league's worst defensive team as they try for just a third win in 12 road games. Toronto plays six of its final eight contests away from home.

Despite their struggles on the road, the Raptors have won eight of nine in Minnesota. They've won seven straight overall in the series and are 19-1 against the Timberwolves since 2004-05.

Minnesota (16-58) was banged-up in a 105-100 loss at Toronto on March 18, and could be short-handed again. Kevin Martin, who matched a season high with 37 points in the first matchup, has missed the past five games with a strained left hamstring and is questionable.

Kevin Garnett (knee, illness), Gorgui Dieng (concussion) and Gary Neal (ankle) are doubtful. Ricky Rubio (ankle) is questionable while Shabazz Muhammad (finger) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) are expected to sit out the rest of the season.

Coach Flip Saunders thought his team's fatigue showed in its fourth straight loss, 104-84 to Utah on Monday.

"Those guys in there, they're exhausted," said coach Flip Saunders, whose team is giving up 106.0 points per game. "I'm not using that as an excuse, it's just the reality of the situation."

The Raptors are not expected to have Kyle Lowry available for a fourth consecutive game and sixth time in seventh contests because of back spasms. Lowry, injured on a hard fall in the third quarter in the first meeting, had scored a combined 44 points in his prior two games against the Timberwolves and had a triple-double in Minnesota last March.

DeRozan has scored 25 points in each of his last two games there while making 20 of 40 shots.

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