Despite a tough loss, Barnes explained the confidence driving his offense.
The Toronto Raptors dropped a tough one on the road Tuesday night, falling to the Houston Rockets 113-99 at Toyota Center in a game that slipped away in the fourth quarter.
Despite the loss, Scottie Barnes continued to show why he is one of the most complete players in the NBA right now and why his confidence has not wavered even as the Raptors have hit some bumps in the road lately.
Barnes finished with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 2-of-6 from three and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line, along with five rebounds and two assists in the losing effort.
Barnes Credits Confidence
After the game, Barnes opened up about what has been fueling his offensive approach even during a stretch where the Raptors have struggled to find consistency.
"Just been feeling really confident in my shot, so you know, I'm just trying to shoot the ball with confidence, be aggressive, and then I had a five-man on me where he was more in help," Barnes said. "So that kind of helped me get things going as well."
It is clear that Barnes is not someone who lets a loss shake his belief in himself, and that mindset is exactly what the Raptors need from their franchise cornerstone going forward.
The two-time All-Star is averaging 19.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per game this season, putting together numbers that should have him in conversations for both All-NBA and All-Defensive honors.
The fact that he fills up the stat sheet on both ends of the floor while guarding the opposing team's best player every night makes him one of the most underrated two-way players in the league right now.
Raptors Hit a Rough Patch
The loss to Houston drops Toronto to 36-28 on the season, which still has them sitting in a solid spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
However, the Raptors have been inconsistent against top competition recently, and this latest defeat only adds to those concerns.
Over their last five games, the Raptors have gone just 2-3, with losses to the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and now the Rockets, who sit at 40-24 and are one of the better teams in the Western Conference.
The Rockets dominated the boards in this one, outrebounding Toronto 61-37, and that gap on the glass was ultimately the difference as Houston pulled away with a 27-16 fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Kevin Durant led the way for the Rockets with 29 points on an incredibly efficient 12-of-16 from the field, while Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson each added 23 points.
RJ Barrett did his part alongside Barnes with 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, but it was not enough to overcome Houston's size and rebounding advantage.
What Comes Next for Barnes and the Raptors
With 18 regular-season games remaining, the Raptors still have plenty of time to right the ship before the postseason, but they are going to need Barnes to keep playing at this level if they want to make any noise in the playoffs.
His ability to score from all three levels, create for teammates, and lock down the opposing team's best offensive weapon is something that very few players in the NBA can do at his level.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic has been vocal all season about wanting even more from Barnes offensively, and nights like this one where Barnes goes for 24 on efficient shooting show that the potential is there for him to carry an even bigger load.
The Raptors continue their road trip Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans before heading home for a matchup with the Phoenix Suns on Friday.