The Toronto Raptors won one of the most memorable games of the NBA postseason with a 112-110 Game 6 victory over the Cavaliers. RJ Barrett hit a go-ahead three in the dying seconds to push Toronto in front, keeping the Raptors’ season alive and forcing a winner-take-all Game 7.
Although Barrett hit the final shot, Scottie Barnes was the unquestioned leader of the Raptors. Barnes finished the game with 25 points, seven rebounds, 14 assists, three steals, and three blocks. It was a gutsy, dominant two-way performance from Toronto’s cornerstone player.
Scottie Barnes is having a superstar breakout before our eyes
Going into the playoffs, most people would have considered Barnes a top-20 player in the NBA. His performance on the NBA’s biggest stage has pushed him closer to legitimate superstar territory.
In the playoffs, Barnes is averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks. He has been the unquestioned best player in Toronto’s series against the Cavaliers.
Barnes has led the Raptors’ offense while spending much of the series defending Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. He has hounded Cleveland’s star duo in half-court sets all series. His defense is a huge reason Mitchell has been mostly kept in check and Harden is averaging 5.7 turnovers per game.
No other player in this series has been asked to carry as much responsibility on both ends of the floor as Barnes. He has given Toronto everything he has.
Maybe the most impressive statistic from Game 6 is that Barnes played 47 minutes and 57 seconds. Watching Barnes defend, rebound, push the pace, and repeat that cycle for almost 48 full minutes was exhausting enough from the couch. It is no wonder Barnes could be seen with his hands on his knees throughout overtime.
Raptors fans should be grateful they have a player like Barnes on their team. He leads by example and produces at an elite rate.
Raptors need one more heroic Barnes performance
There is no reason to believe Barnes won’t give everything he has left in the final game of the series. The only concern is whether Barnes will be able to produce elite results in the series-deciding game after carrying such a herculean workload in Game 6 and dealing with a quad injury in Game 5.
Toronto’s fate is tied directly to Barnes’ ability to wreak havoc on both ends of the floor in a way few NBA players can replicate. If Barnes has one more game with that effort level and ability left in him, Toronto has a great shot to win this series.
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