Fred VanVleet Returns, Scottie Barnes Takes Over & Raptors Cruise Past Spurs

The Toronto Raptors felt the return of Fred VanVleet and saw Scottie Barnes show out in a crucial victory over the San Antonio Spurs

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The Toronto Raptors needed that one.

On a night meant to celebrate Gregg Popovich becoming the winningest coach in NBA history, the Raptors played spoiler, clinching a 119-104 victory Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak and move to 1-1 on what's about to become a very tough West Coast road trip.

1. VanVleet Makes Such a Difference

What a difference Fred VanVleet makes.

If the last five games didn't already prove his value to the Raptors, his return Wednesday certainly did. It's not even that he's a three-point threat from almost the moment he crosses half-court, it's just the way he contorts opposing defenses, taking on double teams, splitting defenders, and creating the kind of chaos Toronto's offense needs to score. He opened the game with six of Toronto's first 10 points, all while showing off his much-improved inside scoring.

Welcome back, @FredVanVleet pic.twitter.com/cBwYYSCvly

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 10, 2022

"It's a concerted effort on his part from the summertime to this year," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of VanVleet's improved inside scoring. "There's some coverages and certain teams you play where that's the play, and we tried to get him more involved in doing some of that stuff and he getting better and he's worked really, really hard at it ... and you start to see some of the dividends from that."

Even when the Spurs started blitzing him, he found a way to navigate the pressure, either passing out of the double team or wiggling his way through the defenders inside. It allowed him to lead the Raptors with a team-high 26 points on 7-for-15 shooting.

"He’s a leader on this team. He’s on us non-stop on the floor about getting stops, getting to our spots. It makes it easier. It opens up a lot more space. He’s a general out there on the floor," said Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes. "So it helps us all when he’s out there on the floor with driving lanes being more open. When he’s there, his presence is just really big for our team.”

2. Barnes Shows Off Bully Ball Skills

Barnes is such a mismatch creator for the Raptors. At 6-foot-7 and with guard speed, few teams have the type of defenders that can defend him when he gets going downhill. Even when defenders sag off him, giving him an outside shot, he's repeatedly shown an ability to get inside and fool teams with his unorthodox post moves.

"He's got a little bit of a herky-jerky rhythm to when he lets go of it down there. I think that's really the key," Nurse said. "His release points are kind of different at different times and I think he catches them, even the bigger guys with their hands, they're not quite expecting him to shoot some of those. ... So I think that's an interesting way of scoring when you're not really using the same exact footwork and rhythm every time."

After taking just two shots in the first half, Barnes got to work early in the second half, taking on the 7-foot-1 Jakob Poeltl with a floater inside. He kept at it, repeatedly getting to the rim in isolation, taking on defenders, and leading the Raptors in the second half with 18 of his 20 points following halftime.

SCOTTIE GOING TO WORK 😤 pic.twitter.com/Bh75kWXGBN

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 10, 2022

"We’ve seen him do this before where he’s not quite been involved or aggressive enough or whatever and then come out and get super aggressive," Nurse said. "We did get a couple good reads on some play calls that got him going downhill towards the rim. But mostly he just decided to start imposing his size and will over the top of ‘em and got himself going."

Barnes' best skill right now may be his relentless hustle and that knack of grabbing offensive rebounds for easy putbacks, but his ability to win in isolation is the skill that'll really take him to the next level.

Injury Update

Khem Birch's face can't catch a break. Having already fractured his nose this season, he was forced to exit Wednesday's game after losing a tooth in a collision with Dejounte Murray.

Up Next: Phoenix Suns

The Raptors will continue their road trip Friday night when they head west to take on the Phoenix Suns at 9 p.m. ET