Toronto's thrilling 141-127 overtime victory against the Warriors on December 28 was undoubtedly a commendable team effort overall, but if you were to call it the Scottie Barnes show as well, then you'd be completely justified in doing so.
In 42 minutes of action, Barnes recorded 23 points on 11-for-17 shooting, a whopping 25 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and one block, serving as the Raptors' backbone as they took control of the entertaining game. It would mark Barnes' first triple-double of the 2025-26 season and the seventh time in his career that he has achieved this, which, according to Raptors PR, is the most by a Raptors player aged 24 or younger.
Scottie Barnes sets several records after a commanding triple-double
Barnes' 25 boards against Golden State would tie short-time Raptors fan favorite Bismack Biyombo for the franchise's single-game rebound record. Aside from continuing to etch his name in Toronto's history books, Scottie Barnes now holds the 2025-26 NBA regular season record for most rebounds in a game, breaking the previous record held by Andre Drummond, who managed 24 boards against the Heat on November 24.
Barnes joins Chris Bosh (who did so twice) and Popeye Jones as the third Raptors player all-time to record a 20-plus point and 20-plus rebound game, but the former Rookie of the Year stands out as the only Raptors talent to accomplish this in a triple-double game.
Barnes was asked at the post-game presser if there was any particular preparation or inkling that he could achieve such a dominant stat line, to which he replied (YouTube link here):
"I was just going out there, playing the game. I was in situations where I was able to rebound, help others. So I was just in the right spots, right time, but you know, just trying to work my way on the other end, just trying to wedge them in, try to jump forward, and I was finding those loose balls as well. So you know, it worked for me today. "Scottie Barnes, Dec. 28, 2025
In line with a recent downturn in Raptors play, Scottie Barnes' impact has come under criticism, mainly regarding his ability to take on a commanding leadership role. I noted how this has been a lingering concern that has followed Barnes since he took on the reins as Toronto's primary force. He can go through spells of negative body language and has been referenced as complaining a lot about no calls or demoralizing stretches of subpar defensive and offensive output (whether team-wide or just Barnes himself).
This sometimes causes him to lose focus on moving to the next play and not being quick to react in transition. While these are still very valid areas for Barnes to work on as his career continues to blossom, performances like this one highlight how he can challenge those who doubt him. They remind us that Barnes is capable of asserting his dominance and being the anchor for his team, even in a five-man role that isn’t his usual capacity.
Barnes would discuss this too in his post-game presser, saying:
"Just got a different role, you know, playing the five. Trying to figure out ways on how I'm able to orchestrate the offense, but still try to be aggressive ... when to screen, when to try and get out the way, when to try and be the dunker. Find ways on how I can still try to playmake, how I can still just attack the game, but stay with my aggression."Scottie Barnes on playing center
Scottie Barnes isn't going anywhere, and after a performance like this, it's obvious that his star is far from fading. I'm sure there will still be some bumpy roads ahead, and not every night will read such a masterful stat line, but it definitely highlights that Barnes remains one of the most intriguing young stars in the NBA.