TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors were missing two things against the Miami Heat: a solid effort in the primary quarter and Jakob Poeltl.
RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., scored 23 of his 29 points after halftime because the Toronto Raptors rallied against the Heat but ultimately lost to Miami 120-111 in extra time on Friday. Barrett was held scoreless in the primary quarter as Toronto trailed by as many as 14 within the frame.
“Began slow, but we picked it up throughout the course of the sport,” said Barrett, who had 4 assists and three rebounds. “We won the second, third and fourth quarter.
“So obviously, slow start there. The primary will be the difference in the sport.”
Barrett and Immanuel Quickley fuelled the Raptors’ (17-39) comeback, with 10 and nine points, respectively, within the third quarter. Quickley finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
The fourth quarter was just about all Barrett.
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Barrett had nine points within the fourth and scored all 4 of Toronto’s points in extra time while the remainder of his teammates were 0 for six in the additional period. He said he had been motivated by the trash talk of former teammate Davion Mitchell, who was sent to Miami on Feb. 6 ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline as a part of the five-team deal that moved Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.
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“(Mitchell) was just talking a lot,” said Barrett. “He was talking while he had the ball before he even scored, after which he made the layup, after which (Scottie Barnes) heard it.
“Scottie called a play for me, after which I went back, and I scored after which form of just got rolling from there. The trash talk, fun a part of the sport helped get me going needless to say.”
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said that coming out flat in the primary quarter cost his team the win.
“I believed the sport was just about in the primary quarter,” said Rajakovic. “The way in which we opened up the primary quarter, having seven turnovers there, that set us up really for a poor defensive performance.
“We won the second, third, and fourth quarter, but we want to have a greater begin to the sport, and that was a giant emphasis for us today.”
Even though it was only the eighth game this season where Barrett, Quickley, and Barnes got to play together, it was Poeltl’s absence that Rajakovic said had the most important impact on the sport. The 29-year-old centre hasn’t played since Feb. 4, out with a right hip pointer.
“Not having Jak, who’s our connection, he’s the glue for our team, the best way he sets screens, the best way he spaces the ground, the best way we play through him,” said Rajakovic. “It’s hard to judge without that effect on the court.”
Poeltl’s absence also allowed Heat forward Bam Adebayo free reign, scoring 19 points and knocking down 12 rebounds. Miami had 54 points within the paint to Toronto’s 36.
Barnes briefly left the sport in the primary quarter after rolling his ankle but returned to complete with 13 points and 6 rebounds in 38 minutes of play.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
