Scottie Barnes Makes His Case for Defensive Player of the Year With Game-Sealing Block on Chet Holmgren
With the game on the line and a seven-footer rising for a potential game-tying shot, Scottie Barnes delivered the kind of moment that defines a Defensive Player of the Year résumé.
Let’s rewind to the final 34 seconds in Oklahoma City. The Raptors were clinging to a 101-99 lead over a Thunder team that’s been one of the league’s toughest outs at home. Toronto needed a stop, and Oklahoma City went to their unicorn rookie, Chet Holmgren, hoping his length and touch could tie the game.
Holmgren, all 7-foot-1 of him, caught the inbound pass at the perimeter and went to work against Barnes - a 6-foot-8 wing with a defensive motor that doesn’t quit. Holmgren tried to create space, lowering his shoulder and rising for a midrange jumper.
But Barnes stayed with him, timed his contest perfectly, and extended his right arm just high enough to swat the shot away. Then he grabbed the rebound for good measure.
That’s not just a clutch defensive play - that’s a statement.
“That was big time,” Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley said after the game. “He’s been making big defensive plays all year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a Defensive Player of the Year. Blocks, steals, communication - he’s big time for us.”
And the numbers back that up. Barnes finished with a near triple-double: 10 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and three blocks. But it wasn’t just the stat line - it was when those plays came.
Just seconds after Holmgren’s shot was denied, the Raptors had a chance to ice the game at the free-throw line. Jamal Shead missed both attempts, but Barnes wasn’t done. He out-hustled everyone for the rebound, tapping it out to Quickley, who was fouled and knocked down two clutch free throws to seal the 103-101 win.
That rebound won’t show up on a highlight reel, and it technically goes down as an offensive board. But it was another example of Barnes’ relentless impact in crunch time.
“Scottie’s defense was elite,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković said postgame. “Blocking the shot against Chet Holmgren, getting the offensive rebound after the free-throw miss - those are winning plays.”
Barnes also took on the challenge of guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, for nearly two and a half minutes of game time. During that stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t score a single field goal. That’s no small feat against one of the most dynamic scorers in the league.
The win handed the Thunder their second straight home loss - something that hadn’t happened since early November 2023. And while the Raptors are still finding their identity under a new-look roster, Barnes is clearly emerging as the team’s defensive anchor.
With the season just past its halfway point, the Defensive Player of the Year race is heating up. Names like Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Bam Adebayo, Amen and Ausar Thompson, Evan Mobley, and Derrick White are all in the conversation.
But Barnes? He’s not just in the mix. After Sunday’s performance, he might be leading it.