Scottie Barnes Shows Superstar Potential But Raptors Fall to Bulls In Ridiculous Fashion

The Toronto Raptors got a look at Scottie Barnes' future potential but a back-and-forth game with the Chicago Bulls ended in an absurd loss

Year 3 Scottie Barnes appears to be special.

In what was an otherwise ridiculous and at times maddening night for the Toronto Raptors, Barnes showed he’s on his way to blossoming into what this organization is hoping for: A true NBA difference-maker. At times, he looked like a true superstar, nailing tough mid-range jumpers the kind normally reserved for only the league’s best. When the Chicago Bulls adjusted, he showed off his otherworldly passing chops, whizzing perfect passes to Gary Trent Jr. for a pair of threes. He nailed what should have been the game-deciding three-pointer in overtime.

But not on this night.

Every time Toronto had Chicago on the edge, the Raptors let the Bulls back in. They clinched defeat from the jaws of victory, seemingly determined to lose.

And that they did, falling 104-103 in overtime in what may be Toronto’s most ridiculous loss in a very long time.

It was Alex Caruso who played the hero for Chicago, nailing a corner three-pointer with two seconds to go to clinch the Bulls the victory.

None of it should have happened the way it did. Pascal Siakam had a chance to put the game away but missed a pair of free throws in overtime. Moments before that, DeMar DeRozan had a chance of his own to sink Toronto in regulation, but three missed free throws late in the fourth allowed the Raptors to stay alive.

Up three with 13 seconds to go, a silly Barnes turnover created the first opportunity for DeRozan at the line. Then came Chris Boucher’s gaff, biting on DeRozan’s pump fake down three in the final seconds. Moments later, Siakam took an offensive foul during the inbounds pass and then bit on DeRozan’s pump fake again, allowing Chicago to force overtime.

Save for his crucial turnover, Barnes was brilliant for the Raptors with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, his second career triple-double. He moved the ball without a hiccup for most of the night, waiting for Chicago to send a double team before flicking it outside. When the Bulls didn’t smother him, he bullied Chicago’s guards in the paint before rising up with his unorthodox floater. He nailed what should have been a decisive blow for Toronto with two minutes to go, backing down Coby White before sinking a turnaround floater that put the Raptors up seven.

For a moment, it looked like Toronto might just run away with the game early. The Bulls came out looking like a team that had just called a players’ only meeting following Game 1. Jakob Poeltl was working the pick-and-roll to perfection. The Raptors were getting stops and the offense was humming.

Then it stopped.

A 14-2 Raptors lead evaporated as Toronto went nearly the entire second half of the first quarter without a single made field goal. The bench looked like, well, last year's bench, a group of untrustworthy and at times unplayable players.

Toronto’s preseason turnover trouble reared back up again with 11 in the first quarter. Dennis Schröder failed to connect on two alley-oop pass attempts. Achiuwa got called for an illegal screen. Barnes recklessly powered his way into the paint only to be slapped with a charge.

In one second-quarter possession, Toronto missed three straight three-pointers, missing and rebounding over and over again. The second miss was a Siakam attempt that clanked one off the side of the backboard, a shot so errant it didn’t come close to hitting the rim. It took nearly the entire first half for the Raptors to hit their second three of the game, a Trent triple on a kick-out pass from Barnes in the post that allowed Toronto to end a 1-for-18 start from behind the arc.

But just as quickly as things went south, somehow Toronto came roaring back. With Poeltl’s foul trouble less pressing, the Raptors returned to their high-post offense and rode 12 straight defensive stops to claw their way back with a 20-0 run of their own.

Schröder nailed a three-pointer to put Toronto back up double digits midway through the third. Siakam made up for a costly turnover with a three-pointer of his own and the silly game of runs continued.

Siakam finished the game with 18 points and eight rebounds but missed what would have been the game-winner, a layup that was blocked by Caruso just seconds before Chicago nailed the dagger at the other end.

As for the bench, the dreadful outing from most of the usual suspects opened the door for Boucher to return to the rotation. After a quick offensive foul, he settled down and looked solid for Toronto. At this point, it would be surprising if he wasn’t in the rotation for the next little while.

Anunoby Exits Early

Anunoby limped off the court at the 7:05 mark in the fourth quarter with cramping. He had said he'd been dealing with a cramping issue in the opener but was able to play through it.

Up Next: Philadelphia 76ers

The Raptors will head right back home for a quick turnaround Saturday night when Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia 76ers await for a 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff at Scotiabank Arena.