Raptors vs. Wolves, Nov. 21 Takeaways: Barnes returns to help close in style

Barrett was efficient once again while the team defence was very good, too

Hello to the first win streak of the 2024-25 season! Toronto defeated Minnesota 110-105 courtesy an exhilarating 17-3 run between the seven and three minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Is this team starting to figure out how to close games out? It certainly helped to have Scottie Barnes back in the mix.

It was actually disappointing the Raptors weren’t up by more than one at halftime because they were dictating the balance of play, shooting 54% from the field while limiting the Wolves to 37%. What kept Minnesota in it was excessive fouling, and they made the most of it by making 18-of-22 free-throw attempts in the half.

After attempting just nine free-throws in the first half, Toronto flipped the script in the second half by getting to the line 30 times while Minnesota only managed 11 more attempts.

Unbelievably, the Wolves remain win-less in Toronto dating back to Jan. 21, 2004. Here are the game’s takeaways:

Scottie’s return

Barnes made his return sporting goggles and a minutes restriction (27 minutes). The goggles seemed to be working as he knocked down his first couple of 3-point attempts and also went 5-of-6 at the free-throw line. Perhaps in search of that game intensity, Barnes flashed a gun celebration after knocking down one of his threes and received a technical foul for it.

He didn’t look to force the issue through three quarters but it was great to see his assertiveness shine through in the fourth. Barnes checked in with the Raptors trailing by three and 5:43 remaining and had the following two-and-a-half minute stretch:

• Drives and kicks to Boucher in the right corner for three (95-95)

• Defends Gobert in the post and earns a three-second violation. He literally yelled out to the officials until they called it.

• Draws a foul on Gobert and knocks down two free-throws (97-95)

• Knocks down mid-range jumper (99-95)

• Gets out in transition off Poeltl steal for dunk (101-95)

That’s vintage Fourth Quarter Scottie impact and something this team has missed in losing all those close games.

Barrett the beneficiary

For the second straight game, Barrett had an efficient outing with 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting and he made 10-of-12 at the free-throw line as well.

Immediately in the first quarter, we saw the value of Barnes in the lineup as Barrett could move to his preferred role of catching the ball on the move rather than orchestrating the offence. For most of this game, Barrett’s buckets came after catching on the move or in transition and that’s the whole key to him being as efficient as we saw him in a Raptors uniform last season.

In the clips below, you’ll see just how much more at ease Barrett looks attacking with the wind in his back in the first couple plays in half-court action before the highlight of the night came towards the end with Gradey Dick tossing up a feed for Barrett to gobble up and slam home to blow the roof off Scotiabank Arena.

Poeltl power surge comes to an end

After averaging 30 points over three games, Jakob Poeltl finished with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from both the field and the free-throw line. It was a fun run while it lasted, but this was always likely with the return of Barnes — even in limited minutes.

Still, Poeltl was an important contributor to the win with his rim protection, screen setting, and helping the offence click through the gears. At the end of the day it was still another double-double with 12 boards to his name.

Should there be more room for Poeltl’s offence even when the team is healthy? This is where the big picture and Poeltl’s ability is misaligned. Even right now, the priority is Barnes, Barrett, and Dick getting the reps they need to get better. Poeltl’s primary role in this is as a release valve. He’s shown he’s capable of more offensively and is the most efficient player on the team but his growth and development in that regard doesn’t figure high enough on the priority list.

But hey, it’s not like adding another player to the mix who needs to be prioritized is of concern either. Poeltl fits because he can be a leader and is perfectly fine with the role he has when the team is at its current health level and what will be the health level at full strength. Now, if you’ve been able to showcase just how capable he is and can set an asking price at a point that would make it well worth it then why not?

Boucher pops off

I’ve said before you know it’s going to be a good night for Boucher when he knocks down his first three but he started this one out with an air-ball from the corner. Instead, he surprised us all with a mid-range fadeaway over Rudy Gobert to open his account in this one before finishing with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting.

With the Wolves possessing so much wiry, lanky size as opposed to bulk, this is actually a good matchup for Boucher. He spent most of his minutes going up against Naz Reid (who finished 1-for-8) and spent a few possessions on Jaden McDaniels as well. There was the odd occasion where he got switched onto Anthony Edwards, and that’s going to be a problem for most.

Boucher’s 22 points outscored the entire Wizards bench and, believe it or not, he actually got to the free-throw line eight times. That’s the most he’s been to the line since attempting 10 against Oklahoma City on Nov. 11, 2022.

New starting lineup

With Barnes returning, there was a decision for Darko Rajakovic to make. Keep Davion Mitchell in the lineup to have a “traditional” point guard and bench Ochai Agbaji? Or do away with tradition and roll with R.J. Barrett and Barnes handling the bulk of the playmaking duties. Rajakovic, a point guard during his own playing days, elected for the latter.

This was the first time these five had played together and it certainly showed. Players were cutting to similar spots, the areas of preferred operation adding to the mucked up nature the offence took on at times. In 10:25 of play that came at the start of the first and third quarters, the quintet of Barrett-Dick-Agbaji-Barnes-Poeltl was outscored 27-19.

Perhaps more telling was that Rajakovic didn’t elect to close either half with that five. Mitchell-Dick-Barrett-Agbaji-Mogbo closed the second quarter while Mitchell-Dick-Barrett-Barnes-Poeltl closed the fourth quarter. Davion Mitchell’s defence was absolutely terrific in this one and so with Ochai Agbaji struggling, it was a no-brainer to have Mitchell in the game.

While Poeltl saw less usage, Dick also took just nine shots in this one while Agbaji was largely ineffective with four points, zero rebounds, and one nice alley-oop to Poeltl for his lone assist. He did have the unenviable task of being Edwards’ primary defender, but it was Mitchell and Jonathan Mogbo who had more success against him.

Notes

• We’ve been waiting to see the City edition Raptors court and it did not disappoint. It’s hard to top this as the best court in the league, every aspect of it pops in the perfect way. The purple in the non-paint two area, the darker hardwood, the Raptor with the ball through its legs in the middle of the court… As Serge Ibaka would say, The Raptors did art with this one.

• Ja’Kobe Walter was also available to return but did not get on the court.

• Jonathan Mogbo was a real difference maker in 19 minutes of action, playing really good defence mainly matched up against Julius Randle and being a force on the boards. He finished with five offensive rebounds while showing his versatility going up against Rudy Gobert and Edwards, too.

• Rajakovic confirmed that the entire roster will make the trip to Mississauga Friday night to support the Raptors 905 in their home opener.

• In celebration of the team’s 10th anniversary, the Raptors 905 are selling some tickets to the game this Friday and Sunday for $9.05.