Traveling requires a toll on Toronto Raptors

Toronto de hardships of an 82-game season and all traveling with it are the Toronto Raptors.

Scottie Barnes had 22 points, six rebounds and six assists when Toronto Plat came out in a loss of 123-89 for the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. The Raptors had just returned from a four-game west coast swing and immediately left for Washington, DC, after the game to see the wizards on Monday opposite the wizards, the first of two roads.

“They came out and put us in the mouth,” said Barnes van de Spurs. “But we have a game tomorrow. That’s the best of the NBA.

“We have another game tomorrow where we can go outside and try to prove ourselves again.”

Barnes reached 2,000 rebounds in his career on Sunday and reached the milestone in 267 games. He is the fastest player in franchise history with more than 2,000 rebounds and more than 1,000 assists.

“I just try to play to win, whatever happens,” said Barnes. “Everything I do on the floor is specifically just trying to win, try to do my best, try to do everything that is possible.”

RJ Barrett from Mississauga, Ont., Had 18 points and seven rebounds after missing three of the four games of Toronto on the road. Rookie Ja’kobe Walter came off 10 points from the bank after he had missed seven games with a right hip flexor.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said that managing the practice time of his team was a challenge after it had played in San Francisco on Thursday evening against the Golden State Warriors.

“It is always the same when you go on the west coast, coming back from a long road trip for that first home game,” said Rajakovic. “We just had no energy. We were so slow at the start of the game, they dictated everything offensive and defensive.

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“RJ, who comes back after missing seven days, first match for Ja’kobe after some time too, those guys found some rhythm. We didn’t play well enough tonight. We have to be much better, and I expect that we will be much better tomorrow.”

Toronto (24-47) has the seventh-most record in the NBA, giving the Raptors a chance of 32 percent to make a top-four choice and a 7.5 percent chance of winning the top selection in the NBA Draft Lottery on 12 May.

Washington (15-55) is bound with the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets with a chance of 52.1 percent to be in the top four and a 14 percent chance at number 1 in general.

This report from the Canadian Press was first published on March 23, 2025.

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