Scottie Barnes is a two-way star. There was never much debate about that. He does everything the Raptors need him to do on either end of the floor—defending any position, playing in the frontcourt, or handling the point guard responsibilities. There were some doubts about his ability to be a top option, a go-to scorer, for a successful playoff team, however.
Barnes proved that he could be just that in an emphatic 126-104 Game 3 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He and RJ Barrett took over—with some help from Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamison Battle off the bench—to deliver a much-needed victory for the Raptors, scoring 33 points each and keeping Toronto’s hope of a first-round upset alive.
Scottie Barnes played a strong all-around game
Barnes impacted every aspect of the game. He scored 33 points (tied for his season high) on 11-17 shooting, including 3-5 from three. He was an efficient and reliable go-to option in a game in which Brandon Ingram only took nine shots and two free throws.
Barnes also contributed on the boards, grabbing four defensive rebounds and one offensive rebound. On top of that, he dished out a game-high 11 assists, taking on the playmaking responsibilities in a starting lineup that didn’t feature Immanuel Quickley, who is still out with a hamstring issue, or Jamal Shead.
Moreover, Barnes had his usual defensive impact, going up against the Cavs’ best scorers and offensive creators.
It was a true superstar performance on the biggest stage of his career. Barnes had gone to the playoffs before, playing four first-round games as a rookie, but he never had to be a superstar on a young team that desperately needed to avoid falling to 0-3 in a playoff series before.
Can he do it again?
While Barnes answered the question of whether he could play like a superstar in a playoff win, his performance brought up yet another question. Can he replicate this kind of production and lead the Raptors to another home win to tie the series 2-2? Did he finally unlock the next level?
There’s really little reason to doubt that he can, but he will still have to prove it.
If the answer is yes, the Raptors may stand a better chance in this series than it had first seemed. A blowout win without Immanuel Quickley and with Brandon Ingram in foul trouble set a new tone for Game 3.
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