Scottie Barnes scores career-high 41 as Raptors fall to Magic in NBA Cup opener
Scottie Barnes posted a personal best 41 points in Toronto's 121-114 loss to Orlando, while the Raptors slipped to 3-2 on the season and 0-1 in East Group A of the NBA Cup.
Toronto forward Scottie Barnes recorded a career-high 41 points on 19-of-34 shooting in the Raptors' 121-114 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Friday, the opening game of the NBA Cup. The winless Raptors fell to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in East Group A of the Cup standings.
Barnes, who had gone scoreless in a prior game, increased his offensive output in the second half, adding 16 points after a quiet first quarter. He also contributed five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 39 minutes.
"I’ve been trying to be aggressive, especially since that Minnesota game for sure," Barnes said. "My mindset going into a game now is just to keep trying to be aggressive as best I can and help the team out as best I can."
Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl described Barnes' effort as relentless.
"He just looked like a man on a mission. He was really, really aggressive out there," Poeltl said.
Despite Barnes' scoring surge, the Magic maintained a nine-point halftime lead and limited Toronto to 13 turnovers, compared with 20 on Wednesday. Orlando shot 52.7% from the floor and made 18 of 34 three-pointers, while the Raptors managed 11 of 27.
Coach Darko Rajaković noted the team's reliance on Barnes' scoring.
"For me, a player who scores 40-something points and takes 34 shots and goes to the free-throw line three times, that’s kind of BS to be honest with you," Rajaković said.
The loss comes as the Raptors begin a road stretch that includes games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Denver Nuggets and a second Cup matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.