Raptors 97, Timberwolves 87: Bargnani steals Calderon vs. Rubio show, scores 31 points

While the pre-game hype preceding the Toronto Raptors-Minnesota Timberwolves match last night was all about the first American – actually Canadian, technically speaking – meeting of Team Spain teammates Jose Calderon and Ricky Rubio. The show was stolen, however, by the red hot Andrea Bargnani. In the Raptors’ 97-87 win, Bargnani went for a nice 31-point, nine-rebound performance in a whopping 45 minutes of court time; in following his 21/11 double-double at the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, the Italian boosted his scoring average to 22.8 ppg. Onto the highlights, then! Below, Il Mago works over Anthony Tolliver repeatedly from arc to the basket, ultimately posterizing the Timberwolf with the one-handed reverse jam. All he did to follow up this highlight was full-body block Rubio’s would-be layup in the heavily trafficked lane. As for Rubio vs. Calderon, the record will show that the former ACB/Euroleague stars officially met in NBA play with 2:23 remaining in the first quarter. B...