TORONTO - Andrea Bargnani scored 31 points and hauled in nine rebounds on Monday as the Toronto Raptors continued their dominance over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 97-87 victory.
The Raptors have won 14 of their past 15 games against Minnesota. They have won eight in a row at Air Canada Centre where Minnesota last won on Jan. 21, 2004.
Amir Johnson had a season-best 19 points to go with 11 rebounds for Toronto (4-5), while Jose Calderon added 14 points and six assists. Leandro Barbosa chipped with 13.
Jose Barea led Minnesota (3-6) with 16 points while Kevin Love had 14 rebounds and 13 points. Luke Ridnour and Derrick Williams also scored 13 each and Ricky Rubio added 10.
The win was the first game in the Raptors only back-to-back-to-back series of the season.
Toronto travels to Washington to face the Wizards on Tuesday, then returns to host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
The Timberwolves were in the midst of their own back-to-back-to-back, playing the second of their run of games.
The Raptors -- who were coming off lacklustre losses at home to New Jersey and away to Philadelphia -- took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter.
But Minnesota scored the first four points of the fourth to pull even. Then Barea hit a three followed by a layup from Williams to put the Timberwolves ahead 78-75.
The game was tied at 80-80 after Bargnani scored on a driving reverse layup with 6:35 to play. There was no more scoring until Johnson put in the rebound after Bargnani's jumper to give Toronto an 82-80 lead with 3:16 to play.
Calderon and Bargnani extended Toronto's lead to six points with under two minutes to play.
The Raptors outscored Minnesota 24-18 in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach for the Timberwolves.
Toronto took a six-point lead into the third and opened it up to a 12-point advantage late in the quarter when Johnson's jump shot for two followed three-pointers by Bargnani and Calderon.
But Barea scored the final seven points of the quarter to cut the Raptors lead to 73-69.
The Raptors overcame the Timberwolves' eight-point second-quarter advantage to take a 55-49 lead by the end of the half. Bargnani led all scorers with 14 points followed by Barbosa's 11 from the bench. Love led Minnesota with 10 in the first half.
Johnson's eight points led the Raptors to a 27-25 lead after the first quarter. Ridnour led Minnesota with nine first-quarter points.
Notes: Raptors centre Aaron Gray underwent an ablation procedure on Wednesday to correct recurring episodes of a rapid heart rate. He is expected to be able to return to the court in two weeks. ... Toronto guard Jerryd Bayless missed his sixth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle. ... Minnesota won at Washington on Sunday to end a 12-game road losing string. The Timberwolves were playing just their third road game of the season Monday.
