Timberwolves put on a show in home opener victory over Toronto

There was all the usual pomp and circumstance on Saturday night at Target Center for the Timberwolves’ home opener, with maybe a little additional juice.

This year marks Minnesota’s largest season-ticket fan base since 1990, with the state abuzz about the basketball team that reached the Western Conference finals last season.

There was a new pregame hype video, the on-court mini-speech from newcomer Julius Randle — who received a standing ovation from the crowd — and the introductions for every player on the roster, with Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid receiving noticeably audible welcomes, to the surprise of no one.

But then there was the basketball — the main event of the night. And for a fan base expecting so much out of this season, it didn’t disappoint.

Because the Wolves indeed looked like title contenders in their 112-101 win against the short-handed Toronto Raptors.

Yes, Toronto is expected to be a cellar dweller this season, while currently being down two starters and playing the second night of a back-to-back. But the type of basketball Minnesota played out of the gates on Saturday included moving the ball and burying shots on offense, while suffocating the Raptors on the other end.

Minnesota led 17-5 fewer than six minutes into the game. That first quarter was the best the starting five has looked in three games this season, and the likely blueprint for success moving forward.

There were certainly periods of poor play mixed into the night as the ball movement and shot-making dried up. A flawless performance, it was not. Toronto made a late run to pull within eight with fewer than three minutes to play, but the Wolves were never in danger from start to finish.

In the game’s final minute, Rudy Gobert blocked a Scottie Barnes’ shot on defense, leading to a Wolves’ runout that ended with a thunderous dunk from Edwards.

Showtime.

It had the feel of a “thank you” to the fans for coming out.

Randle led the way offensively, finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Randle tallied a number of easy buckets off brilliant cuts, further evidence that he can indeed thrive with this team in this system.

“I’m having a lot of fun. I love it here, it’s been amazing,” Randle said in his on-court, postgame interview. “Everyone is so unselfish. … I’m just going out, trying to play as hard as I can and get wins.”

Edwards was inefficient with his shooting (9 of 21) but still finished with 24 points.

As the final seconds ticked off, the crowd was in the same position it was for the pregame festivities — on their feet. They hope that’s the case many, many times this season.

“It was good. A win is a win, and you’re always going to be happy with a win,” Randle said. “We as a team still have a lot to improve on.”