TORONTO — The Raptors picked up a pivotal win against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, as they held on to the sixth seed in a tight Eastern Conference with now just three regular season games remaining.
The standout in their 121-95 result vs. the Heat was Scottie Barnes, who scored a game-high 25 points. It’s the first time he’s hit that mark since Feb. 8., as he also put up a well-rounded night by going 10-16 from the field, along with eight boards, five assists, a block and a steal.
“We know what’s at stake. … We really needed this win,” said Barnes post-game.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković credits the “contagious” energy Barnes played with, noting how it trickled down to the rest of the team as they grasped the “importance” of the matchup.
“He played with definitely more force. He was really locked in,” said Rajaković. “He really just played winning basketball.”
The Raptors are currently in a neck and neck race to secure the best positioning they can in the Eastern Conference, as they sit a game behind the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks and a game ahead of the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.
To lock in a trip to the playoffs, they need to win each of their remaining three matchups to guarantee themselves a top-six seed.
Anything less, their fate enters the hands of how other teams also perform, as the play-in tournament takes shape between those who finish between seventh and 10th. One of those teams is the Heat, who will again play the Raptors on Thursday, giving this current stretch a playoff vibe, said Rajaković.
Given the stakes, Barnes’ play on Tuesday becomes that much more important. In his 30 minutes of action, the all-star forward was consistent all night, scoring seven points in each of the first three quarters.
As the Heat started creeping their way back to end the third, he helped the Raptors keep their momentum by hitting a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, followed by a monster dunk in transition. From that point on, the Raptors didn’t look back, growing their lead to as high as 27 in the fourth quarter.
Post-game, Rajaković spoke about how his team is “really banged up,” with several players experiencing “a lot of pain” as they battle through the later stages of a gruelling NBA season. Among those players is starting point guard Immanuel Quickley, who made his return to the lineup tonight after missing the last eight games due to plantar fasciitis in his foot.
While his numbers (three points, four assists in 17 minutes) don’t jump off the page, Rajaković stresses Quickley’s importance and impact, especially in helping take a “little bit of the load from Scottie, who has to do it all.”
Part of the reason behind Barnes’ scoring slump the past two months has been due to the fact that Quickley has been injured, requiring Barnes to step into those floor-general duties. In turn, Barnes has averaged 10.2 assists over the last eight games before tonight’s Heat matchup, as his scoring has taken a backseat.
On Tuesday, Barnes continued to find his teammates for easy looks, finishing with five assists, while notably connecting with rookie Colin Murray-Boyles, whose physicality was a standout for his coach and teammates on both ends of the floor.
“He changes games; his physicality, rebounding the ball, offensive rebounding, him being able to just guard,” said Barnes on Murray-Boyles. “Our defence just gets better when he steps out there on the floor. … I think he does an exceptional job out there, and I can’t give him enough credit when he’s out there over-performing. I think he’s amazing for us on both ends of the floor. We need him.”
In general, the win felt like a combined team effort, as the main four players off the bench all finished with eye-popping plus/minuses, which includes Jamal Shead with a game-high 11 assists. In the starting lineup, Brandon Ingram also finished with 23 points (9-16 shooting).
“It’s all about winning, and you have two winners over there who are going to do everything possible to help the team win,” said Rajaković on Ingram and Barnes. “So really proud of both of them … just stepping in on the court with the mentality that they have to compete to get a very important win is the key.”
Defensively, the Raptors also made their mark. For the season, the Heat have only scored less than 100 points six different times — three of those contests have been against the Raptors, resulting in wins for Toronto. Rajaković points out there were some “breakdowns on the defensive end,” but overall he’s pleased with their effort and intensity.
The victory on Tuesday improves the Raptors’ record to 44-35, and gets them back in the win column after a loss on Sunday versus the Celtics. Up next, they’ll look to continue their winning ways with their eyes toward a playoff spot, as they get ready for a rematch against the Heat on Thursday in Scotiabank Arena.