Barrett returns to Raptors as Barnes gets hurt

TORONTO – Jakob Poeltl made a defensive rebound with 9.1 seconds left in additional time and made an outlet cross to a streaking RJ Barrett. The Toronto Raptors swingman sprinted down court docket, pulled up on the three-point line, and shot.

Rim. Out.

Offensive rebounds by Ochai Agbaji and Poeltl got here up quick and the Denver Nuggets 127-125 comeback victory over Toronto was full.

If Barrett had made the three it will have been the proper finish to his first recreation in three weeks after lacking many of the pre-season and the primary three video games of the common season with a sprained shoulder. The 24-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., mentioned he heard footsteps as he crossed half-court and didn’t need to have a layup blocked.

“I’m comfy taking that shot. I’m proud of the shot I took,” mentioned Barrett. “That’s simply who I’m. It’s who I’ve at all times been.

“I’ll take the shot once more. That’s simply who RJ Barrett is.”

Barrett’s miss deflated the 19,082 followers at Scotiabank Area, who had been on their ft for the ultimate seven minutes of the sport.

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Nuggets guard Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ont., drove to the web for a layup with 0.1 seconds left within the fourth to tie the sport at 114-114 after the Raptors led by as many as 15 factors. It punctuated a 13-3 run that received Denver again into the sport.

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“I informed guys that I don’t consider in ethical victories. I consider in successful,” mentioned Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “I assumed we competed for the massive a part of the sport.

“Many of the recreation we competed the precise means, and we gave all of it we had tonight.”

Rajakovic mentioned that it’s the coach’s accountability to name a timeout and forestall a low share shot like Barrett’s three-point try from taking place. He mentioned he’d quite cease the play and get a structured reset.

When requested if he would have appreciated Rajakovic calling a timeout, Barrett adamantly shook his head no.

“I don’t know what participant would inform you that,” he mentioned. “All people would quite have an open court docket than, enjoying five-on-five, set defence.”

Barrett completed with 20 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists within the spirited additional time loss. Rajakovic was impressed with Barrett’s efficiency.

“You simply by no means know the way the participant goes to look on the court docket,” mentioned Rajakovic. “I really feel that he competed actually onerous. He received a bit of bit winded there in direction of the tip of the sport.

“We tried to maintain his minutes restricted tonight as nicely, however I assumed that for an enormous a part of the sport, he appeared good.”

Barrett’s return was welcomed by a Raptors crew that’s been stricken with a raft of accidents to start out the season.

Level guard Immanuel Quickley (proper pelvic contusion), Kelly Olynyk (again) of Kamloops, B.C., Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgical procedure), and Ja’Kobe Walter (sprained shoulder) are all on Toronto’s inactive checklist.

All-star Scottie Barnes could also be becoming a member of them after he caught an elbow to his proper eye with 24 seconds left within the fourth quarter. He needed to be helped to the bench after the harm and didn’t return to the court docket.

Barnes was seen leaving Toronto’s locker room after the sport with a bag of ice on his eye.

It was the tip of a bodily night time for Barnes. He was additionally the recipient of a flagrant foul by Nuggets level guard Russell Westbrook early within the fourth quarter. Westbrook and Barnes began jawing at one another after the play with their teammates, coaches, and officers having to separate them.

“Simply speaking forwards and backwards, warmth of the second,” mentioned Barrett, who was on the court docket on the time. “Scottie defended himself, as he ought to.

“I used to be proper there with my one good shoulder getting within the combine.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 28, 2024.

&copy 2024 The Canadian Press