TORONTO – The rigours of an 82-game season and all of the travel that comes with it are catching as much as the Toronto Raptors.
Scottie Barnes had 22 points, six rebounds and 6 assists as Toronto got here out flat in a 123-89 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. The Raptors had just returned from a four-game West Coast swing and immediately left for Washington, D.C., after the sport to face the Wizards on Monday, the primary of two away games.
“They got here on the market and punched us within the mouth,” said Barnes of the Spurs. “But we’ve got a game tomorrow. That’s one of the best thing in regards to the NBA.
“We’ve got one other game tomorrow where we are able to go on the market and take a look at to prove ourselves again.”
Barnes reached 2,000 rebounds in his profession on Sunday, achieving the milestone in 267 games. He’s the fastest player in franchise history to have greater than 2,000 rebounds and over 1,000 assists.
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“I’m just attempting to play to win, regardless of what,” said Barnes. “The whole lot that I do on the market on the ground is specifically just attempting to win, attempting to do my best on the market, attempting to do anything that’s possible.”
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RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 18 points and 7 rebounds after he missed three of Toronto’s 4 games on the road. Rookie Ja’Kobe Walter got here off the bench for 10 points after he missed seven games with a right hip flexor.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic said that managing his team’s practice time was a challenge after it played in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
“It’s at all times the identical while you go on the West Coast, come back from a protracted road trip, for that first home game,” said Rajakovic. “We just didn’t have any energy. We were so slow initially of the sport, they were dictating every little thing offensively and defensively.
“RJ, coming back after missing seven days, first game for Ja’Kobe after missing a while as well, those guys finding some rhythm. We didn’t play ok tonight. We must be a lot better, and I expect us to be a lot better tomorrow.”
Toronto (24-47) has the seventh-worst record within the NBA, giving the Raptors a 32 per cent probability at drawing a top-four pick and a 7.5 per cent probability of winning the highest selection within the NBA Draft lottery on May 12.
Washington (15-55) is tied with the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets with a 52.1 per cent probability of being in the highest 4 and a 14 per cent probability at No. 1 overall.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
