The Wolves apparently missed Al Jefferson more than Toronto did Chris Bosh.

Both teams tonight were missing their stars. The Wolves, playing the first game of the rest of their season without Jefferson, trailed by 10 early, led by 13 in the third thanks to a 17-0 run that end one half and began the other and ultimately the team that Kevin McHale now has implore to play faster than it did with Jefferson ran out of steam.

They also had no answer for Jermaine O’Neal, who scored 1o of 22 points in the fourth quarter and exploited smaller Kevin Love,  moved into Jefferson’s starting center spot and asked to play a season high 38 minutes, down the stretch.

The Wolves gave up 69 points in the second half.

With Jefferson done until next fall, McHale wants his players to play at a faster pace. He hopes guards Sebastian Telfair and Randy Foye specifically will use their speed and  more space created by Jefferson’s absence to create open shots for their teammates in drive-and-kick situations that Wolves were getting because Jefferson commanded double- and triple-teams.

Foye responded with a career-high33 points.

“That’s my game,” he said.

The Raptors’ victory ended their six-game losing streak. Bosh now has missed the last three games because of a sprained knee that apparently won’t get better by Sunday. The NBA on Tuesday named Cleveland’s Mo Williams to replace Bosh in the All Star Game in Phoenix.

The Wolves now have lost seven of eight after winning 12 of their previous 16.

Get used to it.

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