On Sunday afternoon, Scottie Barnes delivered an outstanding performance, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 141-127 overtime win against the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena. Barnes recorded a triple-double before overtime even started, with a career-high 25 rebounds, which is the highest single-game rebound total in the league this season and matched the Raptors’ franchise record set by Bismack Biyombo in 2016.
Barnes scored 23 points, handed out 10 assists, and pulled down 25 rebounds, marking the seventh triple-double of his career. He also became the first Raptors player to achieve a 20-20 triple-double and, since 1980, only the second NBA player alongside Nikola Jokic to record a stat line of 20 points, 25 rebounds, and 10 assists in one game.
The Warriors seemed poised to win, leading by four points heading into the fourth quarter, but Toronto surged with a 9-2 run to tie the game after Barnes tipped in a rebound with around 23 seconds left. Despite Brandon Ingram’s efforts, who nearly secured a win for Golden State, the Warriors fell short. The Raptors dominated overtime, starting with a 10-0 run and outscoring Golden State 19-5 to seal the 14-point victory.
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 39 points, 14 of which came during the third quarter, but he failed to score in overtime and shot only 4 of 11 from beyond the arc. Draymond Green posted 21 points and seven assists, while Jimmy Butler contributed 19 points. This loss ended Golden State’s three-game winning streak, leaving them with a 16-16 record as they prepare to face the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Monday.
Alongside Barnes’ remarkable triple-double, Immanuel Quickley added 27 points and seven assists, and Brandon Ingram scored 26 points for the Warriors. Golden State collectively shot 51% from the field and turned over the ball 21 times, allowing Toronto to score a season-high 35 points off turnovers.
The victory improved the Raptors’ record to 19-14, marking their second win in the last three games, and they are set to host the Orlando Magic on Monday.
Fan Take: Scottie Barnes’ historic triple-double showcases the rise of versatile, impact players who can dominate across multiple facets of the game. This performance highlights the evolving nature of basketball, where all-around excellence is becoming crucial to team success and making the sport even more exciting for fans.
