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The Six Report · Morning

The Kawhi-Scottie-CMB Group That Could Close Toronto's Season

A buzzer-beating loss at the Knicks hid the real preseason signal: a three-man group that wrecked New York.

Scottie Barnes23 pts, 9-15 FG, 4-5 3P, 4 blk in the 120-122 loss
By the Raptors Nightly Desk · Friday, October 16

Toronto fell 120-122 at Madison Square Garden on Tyler Nickel's two late free throws and a turnover that erased Malachi Smith's answering three. The loss closes the road trip, but the number worth keeping is six and a half minutes long.

Scottie Barnes of the Raptors
Scottie Barnes. Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Six Minutes That Mattered

TSN's Josh Lewenberg tracked the stretches Kawhi Leonard, Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles shared the floor: Toronto outscored New York 21-7 in 6:36, holding the Knicks to 2-of-9 shooting with two blocks and three forced turnovers. Over the first three quarters, that trio was plus-14 in 6.5 minutes with the Knicks shooting 22 percent; every other lineup combination was minus-22 over 29.5 minutes, with New York at 51 percent. Lewenberg's framing stuck: the three may not start games together, but they could close them.

A Game Decided Late

The final had six lead changes and nine ties, with neither side pulling away: the Raptors' biggest lead was six, the Knicks' ten. RJ Barrett added 21 points and eight rebounds, and Immanuel Quickley had 18 points and seven assists. New York's last basket was Nickel's free throws for a two-point edge; Smith tied it with a three, but Pacome Dadiet's backcourt turnover and a missed Jaden Bradley layup ended it. The loss puts Toronto's preseason record at 2-1.

Pistons Up Next

Toronto plays at Detroit tonight, its final preseason game before the regular-season opener against Chicago on October 21. Both sides are on one day of rest; the Pistons, 60-22 a season ago under J.B. Bickerstaff, bring Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren off their own layoff. Chucky Hepburn remains day-to-day with a left hamstring issue, with an estimated return around the opener, while Nate Bittle's right foot timeline points to the same date. Whether Rajakovic leans on the Leonard-Barnes-Murray-Boyles group in real minutes once the games count is the question camp leaves open.

Did Scottie Barnes play well against the Knicks?

Yes, 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting with four made threes and four blocks in Toronto's 120-122 loss.

When do the Raptors play next?

They visit the Pistons tonight, October 16, their last preseason game before hosting Chicago on October 21 for the regular-season opener.

By the Raptors Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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