DeRozan scores 17 in Raptors’ pre-season loss to Minnesota Timberwolves

TORONTO – Rudy Gay launched a long pass to a soaring DeMar DeRozan, who finished with huge one-handed dunk.

The Toronto Raptors dropped a 101-89 pre-season decision to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, but the highlight-reel connection in the third quarter between the two athletic Raptors was perhaps a promise of more to come for the two who’ve now had the benefit of some time playing together.

DeRozan scored 17 points to top Toronto, while Gay had 11.

New Raptor Tyler Hansbrough had nine points and seven rebounds, while Jonas Valanciunas had nine points and five boards and Kyle Lowry had eight points to go with four assists.

Kevin Love led the Timberwolves with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Nikola Pekovic had 12 points and eight boards and J.J. Barea added 12 points.

It’s a new season under a new general manager in Masai Ujiri, but there is stability in the Raptors’ starting five that didn’t exist at this time last year. All five are returnees compared to a year ago when three of the starting five were newcomers.

Added to that, Gay was acquired during the mid-season trade that sent Jose Calderon to Detroit, and had to learn on the job without the benefit of training camp or pre-season.

Apart from the alley-oop, Wednesday’s game at the Air Canada Centre was typical pre-season, not a pretty performance for either team, featuring mistimed alley-oops and sloppy turnovers.

The Raptors, who won their pre-season opener 97-89 over the Celtics in Boston on Monday, trailed the Timberwolves 29-22 after a sloppy first quarter.

New Raptor Steve Novak drained three three-pointers in the second to help Toronto take a 59-55 lead into the dressing room at halftime.

Ronny Turiaf led the T’Wolves with seven points in a third quarter that saw the visitors regain the lead, up 83-75 with a quarter left.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey went with mostly newcomers down the stretch as he continues to get a feel for what they have to offer.

The Raptors next host former Raptors No. 1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani and the New York Knicks on Friday.

They open the regular season at home against the Celtics on Oct. 30.

Notably absent on the night was The Raptor, the team’s much-beloved mascot, who’s out for the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon. The Raptors will hire a replacement for the man under the costume, who’s been with the team since Day 1.