The Toronto Raptors have added Scottie Barnes and subtracted the purpose guard place from their beginning lineup.
Barnes, carrying protecting goggles with pink frames, returned to the Raptors lineup on Thursday night time for the primary time since he fractured his proper orbital bone on Oct. 28. To create space for the all-star ahead in Toronto’s beginning 5, head coach Darko Rajakovic made the unorthodox choice of getting no level guard.
That selection paid off with the Raptors incomes a 110-105 win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves for Toronto’s first back-to-back wins of the season.
“We have loads of guys that may ball deal with, do loads of various things on the market on the ground,” mentioned Barnes after the sport, his proper eye nonetheless fully bloodshot. “So long as we play our offence and do the appropriate issues, I really feel like all the pieces goes to go nice.
“Get the ball over half courtroom fairly quick, simply attempt to run, after which get into what we normally run, our core units, after which mainly simply play from there.”
Rajakovic mentioned throughout his pre-game information convention that Barnes would play restricted minutes in his return from harm however the all-star ahead was nonetheless efficient, ending with 17 factors, six assists and three rebounds in 27 minutes of play.
His biggest affect was felt within the fourth quarter.
Barnes returned to the ground with 5:43 left to play and Toronto trailling by three factors. He assisted on a three-pointer by Montreal’s Chris Boucher 23 seconds later, kicking off a 13-2 run that turned the sport round for the Raptors.
“Scottie Barnes. Man, that was enjoyable,” mentioned RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont. “I believe particularly for me personally, I believe you sort of see once we have been down after which simply him being within the recreation, the power that he introduced (was enormous).
“I simply suppose everyone, all collectively, performed nice having Scottie within the lineup for us. He is a particular participant.”
Barrett scored a game-high 31 factors and had seven rebounds and three assists for Toronto (4-12). Jakob Poeltl had a double-double with 15 factors and 12 boards, with Boucher scoring 22 factors off the bench.
Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors start line guard, was nonetheless out with {a partially} torn UCL in his left elbow. Davion Mitchell had been enjoying the purpose with Barnes out however as a result of Mitchell is a defensive specialist Barrett had usually led the staff’s offence.
The Canadian’s robust efficiency as a playmaker gave Rajakovic the boldness to go along with a no-point guard beginning lineup.
“The quantity of choose and rolls and conditions that RJ was dealing with, and the best way he dealt with playmaking and scoring simply gave me extra confidence that I can play with each (Barrett and Barnes), that they will share the duties of a degree guard,” mentioned Rajakovic.
So far as Barnes is anxious, having no designated level guard really performs to Toronto’s energy.
“We have loads of guys that may run, so we have got to run and get the ball out,” he mentioned. “We have had that as a predominant emphasis since we began the season and we have simply obtained to stay with that.
“We’re simply doing the appropriate issues every day. We’re placing in a tough effort, working collectively collectively to attempt to get this W.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Nov. 21, 2024.
