admin The demands of an 82-game season and relentless travel are beginning to wear on the Toronto Raptors.
Scottie Barnes recorded 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists, but Toronto looked sluggish in a 123-89 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. The Raptors had just returned from a four-game West Coast trip and immediately departed for Washington, D.C., after the game to face the Wizards on Monday, the first of two consecutive away fixtures.
“They came out and hit us hard,” said Barnes of the Spurs. “But we’ve got another game tomorrow—that’s the best thing about the NBA. Another chance to go out there and prove ourselves.”
Barnes reached a career milestone on Sunday, becoming the fastest player in franchise history to surpass 2,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists, achieving the feat in just 267 games.
“I’m just trying to win, no matter what,” said Barnes. “Everything I do on the court is about giving my best and doing whatever it takes to help the team.”
Mississauga native RJ Barrett contributed 18 points and seven rebounds after missing three of Toronto’s four road games. Meanwhile, rookie Ja’Kobe Walter returned from a right hip flexor injury, coming off the bench to score 10 points after a seven-game absence.
Head coach Darko Rajaković admitted that managing the team’s training schedule was difficult, particularly after playing in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
“It’s always tough after a long West Coast trip. That first home game is challenging,” said Rajaković. “We just had no energy. We were slow from the start, and they dictated everything on both ends of the court.”
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