Raptors tame T-Wolves to extend winning streak to 15 games

TORONTO, ON - February 10 In the first half, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) comes across some heavy Raptors defence. The Toronto Raptors took on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Scotiabank arena in NBA basketball action. February 10, 2020 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Richard Lautens / Toronto Star / Getty

The Raptors extended their winning streak to 15 games, beating the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves 137-126 in Toronto on Monday.

D'Angelo Russell scored 22 points in his debut, but it wasn't enough to give him his first win in a Timberwolves jersey.

The Raptors All-Star duo of Pascal Siakam (34 points) and Kyle Lowry (27) led the way, with OG Anunoby recording a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double on a night when the team's traditional bigs - Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol - were out of action.

The victory gives Toronto a unique distinction in their home and native land: The win broke a tie with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League for the longest winning streak by a Canadian-based sports franchise.

Raptors win their 15th straight game, setting the all-time record for longest win streak by a Canadian franchise in the NBA/NHL/MLB/CFL#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/m2bn7FhBcq
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 11, 2020

The Raptors haven't suffered defeat since a one-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 12.

A win against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday will put the Raptors in a nine-way tie for the 24th-longest winning streak in NBA history. However, the team is still a long way from catching the Los Angeles Lakers; piloted by Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Gail Goodrich, that legendary squad won an NBA-record 33 straight games during the 1971-72 season.