Fans, by the hundreds, once again started walking out of Target Center with several minutes left Tuesday night in the Timberwolves' game against the Toronto Raptors.

Nothing new there. Except for the score.

After losing seven consecutive games, including the first four on the homestand, the Wolves finally played well enough and opened a lead lush enough to send those folks into the Twin Cities night feeling secure. Rather than bummed, bitter or burned.

As the Wolves' 94-65 lead with 5 minutes, 31 seconds left eased into a 112-80 victory -- their second-most lopsided of the season -- the club's longest losing streak since an eight-gamer in December 1999 was over. Trailing for only 14 seconds all night, they shot 54 percent, scored more than 100 points for the first time in 17 days.