Barrett scores 31, Barnes adds 17 in return from injury, and Raptors beat Timberwolves 110-105

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Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels (3) dunks as Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (4) defends during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (4) protests to a referee after receiving a technical foul during first-half NBA basketball game action against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes sits on the bench during first half NBA basketball game action against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Minnesota Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) drives past Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (4) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Raptors’ Davion Mitchell (front) and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rob Dillingham (back) battle for the loose ball during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid (11) is stopped by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher (right) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Raptors’ Davion Mitchell (45) and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Julius Randle (30) battle for a rebound during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Minnesota Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) drives as Toronto Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl (19) defends during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

By IAN HARRISON

TORONTO (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 31 points, Scottie Barnes added 17 points in his return from injury, and the Toronto Raptors won back-to-back games for the first time this season by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-105 on Thursday night.

Chris Boucher scored 22 points and Jakob Poeltl had 15 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double as the Raptors beat Minnesota in Toronto for the 20th straight time.

Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half and Julius Randle added 23 for the Timberwolves. Edwards shot 2 for 5 in the first half but made 7 of 15 attempts in the second half.

Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels scored 22 points and Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Minnesota has not won in Toronto since Jan. 21, 2004, when Sam Cassell, Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell were the Wolves’ leading scorers in a 108-97 victory.

Takeaways

Timberwolves: Minnesota’s most recent road win over Toronto was Feb. 14, 2021, when the Raptors were playing in Tampa, Florida, because of border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raptors: Barnes wore protective glasses in his return after missing the past 11 games because of a right orbital fracture. He shot 5 for 11 and had six assists in 27 minutes.

Key moment

Barnes scored six points as Toronto used a 13-1 run to turn a 95-92 deficit into a 105-96 lead with 2:33 left in the game. Boucher started the run with a 3 and Barrett capped it with an alley-oop dunk off Gradey Dick’s pass.

Key stat

The Raptors went 5 for 9 at the free-throw line in the first half but made 24 of 30 attempts in the second half.

Up next

Minnesota visits Boston on Sunday and Toronto begins a four-game road trip at Cleveland on Sunday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba