SPORTS

Raptors will face Canadian star Andrew Wiggins in pre-season game in Ottawa

The Canadian Press Published Monday, June 1, 2015 12:01PM EDT Last Updated Monday, June 1, 2015 12:05PM EDT

In this Dec. 23, 2014, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' Dion Waiters (3) defends against Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. After an underwhelming start, Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, is running away with the rookie of the year award. (Mark Duncan / AP Photo)

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TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors will get an early look at Canadian star Andrew Wiggins before the upcoming NBA season.

The league announced the schedule for its annual NBA Canada series of pre-season games on Monday. Wiggins and the Minnesota Timberwolves play twice in the four-game series, including a meeting with the Raptors at Ottawa's Canadian Tire Centre on Oct. 14.

The Timberwolves will also face the Chicago Bulls at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on Oct. 10.

It will give the NBA a rare chance to showcase Wiggins in his home country. With the Timberwolves playing in the NBA's Western Conference, the team only make one regular-season visit to Toronto per year.

Wiggins became the first Canadian to win the NBA rookie of the year award this season. The Vaughan, Ont., product averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his first NBA season and was the only unanimous selection for the league's all-rookie first team.

The other games have Toronto facing the Los Angeles Clippers in Vancouver on Oct. 4 and the Raptors playing Washington Oct. 23 in Montreal.