Darko Rajakovic and I have differing opinions on the idea of playing a team back-to-back. Rajakovic, as he told the media before Sunday’s Toronto Raptors game, loves the idea of it. Being able to scout
the same opponent in one week gives him similar feelings to those of a playoff run. While he would prefer having a day off in between games to practice and get some film in, the idea of playing the 76ers two days in a row is thrilling to Rajakovic.
I’m not as enthused.
There are perks, of course. Kyle Lowry did a scrum with the media before the game, chatting about being in his 20th NBA season (presumably his last), retiring in Toronto, and his Auston Matthews jersey. Nick Nurse is back, and he got issued a technical foul just minutes into the first quarter. Joel Embiid was ruled out of Sunday’s game, and while we don’t wish injury upon anyone here, there also is no denying the perk of not having to watch him merchant fouls all night.
Those perks were a little outweighed by what Toronto is dealing with right now. RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl were all ruled out of the game earlier in the day. Ingram was injured in the game against Charlotte last week, and Barrett was injured in the game against Boston. Poeltl is out “indefinitely,” according to Rajakovic. Barnes made his return, but missing three starters isn’t good, and just as they threw Ja’Kobe Walter into the mix as a starter, he was injured himself just minutes into the game, leaving for the night.
With three starters out, it was up to Scottie Barnes to deliver, despite his returning from his own injury tonight. Like the All-Star candidate he his, Barnes took on the offensive and defensive responsibilities, and it worked. The Raptors led by 10 points at halftime, but a deflated third quarter where they were outscored 36-18 caused the 76ers to gain their own double-digit lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the score even up a little more, but other than Barnes, no one really took over for Toronto. Philly’s Tyrese Maxey flirted with a 30-piece, and while Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamal Shead stepped up for the Raptors, they still trailed heading into clutch time. Who else other than Scottie Barnes to give the team a burst of hope in the final minutes, via a slam dunk that just about shook the roof off Scotiabank Arena?
With a few massive plays, Barnes brought the Raptors one point ahead of the 76ers. Yet it was a travel call on a basket that shifted the momentum back towards Philly, and a Tyrese Maxey three-point shot almost was the nail in the coffin. That Maxey loves to be a Raptor Killer, he does it every time.
Immanuel Quickley responded with his own clutch long two-point shot, bringing Toronto within a possession of the 76ers. Darko wisely used his second challenge of the night to get Toronto the ball with 11 seconds to go in the game, down two points. Miraculously, it was those challenges and a clutch final possession that forced overtime for the Raptors. FREE HOOPS!
Overtime was frustrating to start, though, with calls not going in the Raptors’ favour and Scottie even receiving a tech of his own. With 15 seconds left in OT, the score was tied AGAIN at 115-115. Scottie was able to get a few free throws, making the first and conveniently missing the second to let the clock run out and secure the 116-115 win for the Raptors. What. A. Game.
“How hard this team is playing is giving us a chance every single night,” said Rajakovic after the game. When asked about Scottie Barnes putting up 31 points, he said, “I’m a broken record talking about Scottie. When you need a rebound, he gets you a rebound. When you need a bucket, he gets you a bucket. When you need a stop, he gets you one. God blessed me to have a player like him.”
This game was just proof that Scottie Barnes is an ALL-STAR. He put the team on his back and was the biggest reason they were able to win. It was so much so that Barnes received MVP chants from the crowd at the end of the game as the Raptors secured the win.
“Toronto is special,” Barnes said in response to those chants.
The Raptors have no time to recover, though, as they will be back at it tomorrow at 7:30 pm against the Sixers again.
