Scottie Barnes wasted little time reminding the Raptors what he can do.
After sitting through a three-day rest, Barnes came out Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic looking to answer for a scoreless outing in Toronto’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. He had already said he needed to be better and that he should “try to dominate.”
That message showed up in a big way in the third quarter.
Barnes sprinted into transition, took an outlet pass from RJ Barrett and put home a 360 dunk that lit up Scotiabank Arena and gave the home crowd exactly the kind of jolt they were waiting for.
SCOTTIE BARNES THROWS DOWN A CRAZY 360 SLAM 😱
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 29, 2026
pic.twitter.com/JbPkpC8yic
Toronto needs that version of Barnes, especially with Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely because of a knee injury. The 25-year-old has shown he can carry a heavy load for this team, and the Raptors may need him to keep doing it. Coming into the game, Barnes was averaging 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 30.3 minutes, and his scoring is expected to rise with Leonard sidelined.
Barnes, though, is just as focused on what happens at the other end.
“I know I’m one of the best defensive players in the world, you know? I do what I do, and I make an impact on that floor every single night,” said Barnes in a report from The Canadian Press' John Chidley-Hill.
He also said his aim is to land his first selection to the All-Defensive Team.
By the fourth quarter, Toronto held a comfortable lead over Orlando. Barnes had 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Barrett posted 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
In Other News...
Raptors-Magic Suddenly Looks Very Different After New Injury News
What had looked like a straightforward Raptors-Magic matchup has quickly taken on a very different feel after the latest injury updates. Toronto will be without Kawhi Leonard for several weeks because of right knee inflammation, leaving a significant hole in the lineup and altering the way the team will have to approach the stretch ahead.
Orlando is dealing with its own setbacks, with Paolo Banchero expected out for 4-6 weeks because of a right high ankle sprain and Jalen Suggs sidelined for two games with a right knee bone bruise. Anthony Black, who had been listed as questionable, has been cleared to play, giving the Magic at least one more available body as both teams adjust to a suddenly thinner game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Face An Early Test As Injuries Raise The Stakes
The Raptors head into their matchup with Orlando still sorting through the offensive issues that showed up in the loss to Minnesota, where Scottie Barnes had a particularly rough night. Toronto needs more from its young centerpiece, especially in terms of aggressiveness and playmaking, and this stretch against the Magic offers a chance to reset before the seasons early frustrations settle in.
Orlando comes in dealing with its own injury problems, with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs both sidelined, which changes the look of the game even if the challenge remains real. For Toronto, that only adds to the importance of handling business against a depleted opponent, because the Raptors can use a clean offensive performance just as much as they need a result. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes Is Raising A Real Concern For The Raptors Offense
Scottie Barnes early-season shot profile has become a notable wrinkle for the Raptors, and not necessarily the kind that encourages confidence. Instead of living at the rim the way he has in past seasons, Barnes has been leaning more heavily into mid-range looks, a shift that has altered the balance of Torontos offense and taken some of the pressure off defenders to protect the paint.
Darko Rajakovic has said opposing coverages have played a role in that change, but the larger concern is whether Barnes can get back to being a consistent paint threat while still operating as a playmaker. He has already shown flashes in the opening stretch, then followed that with a rough shooting night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which only adds to the sense that Toronto is still trying to figure out how best to use its most important young piece. [Read more 🡒]