Siakam's 31-point double-double helps VanVleet-less Raptors overwhelm Hawks
Barnes fills in for Toronto point guard who sat out game with lower back tightness
If the Toronto Raptors raised a few eyebrows listing Scottie Barnes at guard on their training camp roster, Monday's masterful performance would have silenced the critics.
"I was just taking the looks that they were giving me, trying to capitalize, make the right plays at the right time," Barnes said.
Pascal Siakam had 31 points and 12 rebounds in Toronto's seventh consecutive win over the Hawks at Scotiabank Arena. Gary Trent Jr. added 21 points, O.G. Anunoby finished with 14 points and six steals, Chris Boucher chipped in with 11 points and Precious Achiuwa had 10 for Toronto (4-3).
WATCH | Siakam powers Raptors past Hawks:
Dejounte Murray led Atlanta (4-3) with 20 points.
A pair of Achiuwa free throws put Toronto ahead by 20 points less than a minute into the fourth quarter, before Murray's driving layup sliced the difference to 15. But the Raptors answered every Hawks run, and when rookie Christian Koloko — who earned his first NBA start — slashed to the hoop for a dunk, the basket gave Toronto a 24-point lead, much to the delight of the capacity Scotiabank Arena crowd of 19,800 fans.
Barnes flashes his versatility
While Nurse has praised Barnes' ability to run the offence, he was more impressed with his defensive effort. The Raptors had a great night on defence, forcing 18 Hawks turnovers for 24 points.
"[Barnes] was pushing, he was dancing [with] the ball, throwing ahead for transition buckets, really got us going in transition offence — but his defence was outstanding tonight," Nurse said.
.<a href="https://twitter.com/ScottBarnes561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottBarnes561</a> 🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/kolokojunior1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kolokojunior1</a> <a href="https://t.co/WUmzqkWrNW">pic.twitter.com/WUmzqkWrNW</a>
—@RaptorsThe 6-9 Barnes, who played point guard at Florida State, said on season-opening media day that he was eager to play more at the point this season.
"He can play every position basically, and the good thing is that he's willing to do it," Koloko said of Barnes. "When coaches tell him to play [centre], he's cool with it... he's willing to do it for the team. That's just what type of player he is."
Young's three midway through the second quarter saw the Hawks go up by three points, but Barnes' three-pointer was the exclamation mark on a Raptors' 20-4 run that had them back up by 13. Toronto headed into the halftime break leading 64-53.
The Hawks pulled to within a point early in the third quarter, but their momentum was short-lived, and when Trent connected on a pair of free throws late in the frame, the Raptors went ahead by 17, their biggest lead to that point.
VanVleet will have to wait another game at least to make up for his 0-for-11 shooting night in Friday's loss to Philadelphia. He sat out Monday's game a day after he was unable to practise due to lower back stiffness.
"Thought he'd be ready to go tonight, but was not," said Nurse.
