Scottie Barnes has wasted no time making the ball his. After being held in check against Minnesota, the Raptors forward came out swinging in Friday’s NBA Cup opener against Orlando and kept the same mindset rolling into Sunday’s matchup with the Lakers.
Barnes launched 24 shots in the first half alone against the Magic and finished with 34 attempts overall on the way to a 41-point night. Two days later, he was back at it with 29 points on 20 shots against Los Angeles.
“I’ve been trying to be aggressive, especially since that Minnesota game for sure,” Barnes said. “My mindset going into a game now is just to keep trying to be aggressive as best I can and help the team out as best I can.”
That scoring burst stands out because Barnes usually fills a different lane first. His defense and playmaking are typically the top items on his checklist, with scoring coming after that.
Still, he’s shown before that he can carry a bigger offensive load, including a 24.1 points-per-game average in last season’s playoffs. With Kawhi Leonard sidelined, Toronto may need even more of that version of Barnes.
He also entered the season with a personal scoring goal in mind. Through six games, he’s averaging 24.8 points per night.
“I wanted to break that, (but) It’s just about trying to be aggressive,” Barnes said. “I think I did a great job doing downhill, being aggressive.”
The Raptors’ injury picture added another wrinkle Sunday. Jakob Poeltl, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds on Friday, woke up with a “wonky” left shoulder and missed the game because of bursitis, according to Grange.
Poeltl still went through pregame warm-ups, but the pain left him with too little range of motion to play. He is set to be re-evaluated before tonight’s game against the Clippers.
Sunday also brought an early-season reunion with Sandro Mamukelashvili. He had his breakthrough while Poeltl was out last season, then turned that opportunity into a four-year, $52MM deal with the Lakers in free agency.
“I’m grateful. I’ll never forget that,” Mamukelashvili said.
“(Coach Darko Rajakovic) and the whole Raptors organization gave me a possibility to be here today. And even though it didn’t work out with them (contract-wise), I’m so grateful that they gave me that chance to go out there and showcase what I can do and what type of player I am.”
As for Leonard, Rajakovic said he is “doing well,” and the next update on his condition is expected Tuesday.
In Other News...
Gradey Dick Is Still Feeling The Raptors Trade Reality
Gradey Dick is still getting used to the strange rhythm of seeing the Raptors on the other side of the floor. In his second game against Toronto since being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, Dick handled the matchup like a player who knows the business side of the league but still feels the personal side of it, talking afterward about adjusting to the change while keeping things cordial with his former teammates. He also had a solid night on the court, finishing with 12 points in 28 minutes.
The matchup carried a little extra weight because Brandon Ingram, another piece of the trade, was on the Clippers bench while recovering from injury. For Toronto fans, it was another reminder that the deal is still unfolding in real time, with former faces now scattered and the emotional residue of the move lingering even as both sides move on. Dick may be settling into his new uniform, but the first few meetings with his old team have made clear this one is going to take some getting used to. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors And Cavs Are Headed For A Pressure-Test Debate
The Raptors recent stretch has only sharpened the old reminder of how much Kawhi Leonard once steadied the group in big moments, and it has also made for an interesting comparison with Cleveland. Both teams can look polished when things are going their way, but the conversation around them has shifted toward how they respond when the game gets messy, when a lead starts to shrink and the pressure rises.
For Toronto, that lens matters because the franchise has lived through the difference between regular-season competence and playoff readiness. Cleveland is dealing with its own version of that test, with questions about blown leads, toughness and whether Evan Mobleys growth can help anchor a team that still has to prove it can absorb adversity. The Cavaliers may keep stacking wins over the long haul, but the real debate is whether they can survive the kind of heat the postseason tends to bring. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Road Comeback Solved One Problem But Exposed Another
The Raptors win over the Clippers offered a useful snapshot of where this group is right now: resilient enough to rally from a double-digit hole in the fourth quarter, but still uneven enough to put itself in that position in the first place. Toronto finished off a 125-118 road victory without Kawhi Leonard and Jakob Poeltl, leaning on Collin Murray-Boyles in a small-ball role at center and getting key defensive work from Scottie Barnes when the game tightened.
Still, the comeback did not erase the issue that created the pressure to begin with. Toronto has made it clear it wants cleaner starts in the games ahead, and that concern will be tested quickly with Denver next on the schedule. The Raptors can take plenty from the way they closed against the Clippers, but they also know they cannot keep asking for late-game rescue acts and expect the same result every night. [Read more 🡒]