After missing the last 24 games, the return for the Raptors' starting center is finally on the horizon.
The Toronto Raptors won 122-104 Sunday night against the Indiana Pacers in Scotiabank Arena. This marks their third win in the last four games, with one remaining against the Detroit Pistons before All-Star Weekend. Two-time All-Star Scottie Barnes will be participating on Saturday in the Shooting Stars competition for Team All-Star and Sunday in the All-Star Game for Team USA Stripes.
Barnes was undoubtedly the star of the show in Toronto against the Pacers. The former No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft recorded game-highs in all five of the major statistical categories, contributing 25 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and two steals on 60% shooting.
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) | © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Outside of the former Florida State Seminole’s dominant performance, it was also the debut for Trayce Jackson-Davis. In his first game in Toronto after being traded from the Golden State Warriors, the former No. 57 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft became the fifth Raptor to record a double-double in his debut (via X), adding 10 points and 10 rebounds to match a steal and a block.
Coming into the game, the injury report was especially encouraging for Raptors fans.
Starting center Jakob Poeltl was listed as questionable before ultimately being ruled out due to return to play reconditioning. Although he didn’t play, this was the first time he was not immediately ruled out in the 24 games straight that he’s missed.
The Austrian big man has been sidelined due to a lower back strain, and the Raptors’ front-court depth has struggled significantly because of it. The trade for Jackson-Davis will prove to be beneficial even when Poeltl is back in the lineup, but having their starting center will give them an opportunity to have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Losing to the top teams in the NBA has been a consistent problem for Toronto. Outside of the win in Oklahoma City against the reigning champion Thunder, the Raptors are 0-11 against the top eight teams in win percentage, including the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks (via StatMuse). They have yet to play the top-seed in the East, and it seems they may finally have their true starting five back to try and improve the record to 2-11 against the top teams.
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) | © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Poeltl was heavily involved in trade discussions before the NBA deadline on Thursday. With a 3-year, ~$84 million extension lasting through 2030, the former No. 9 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft is averaging his lowest points, rebounds, assists, and blocks since 2021, and his production will be needed if the Raptors want to win a playoff series for the first time since the Bubble in 2020.