Raptors beat Wizards as Scottie Barnes leads with 28 points

Toronto Raptors Defeat Washington Wizards Behind Scottie Barnes

Scottie Barnes recorded 28 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 112-102 victory against the Washington Wizards on Friday night. The win marks the second victory for Toronto, following a 132-125 win over the Chicago Bulls earlier in the week where the Raptors forced 27 turnovers.

Against Washington, Toronto’s defense forced 23 turnovers, capitalizing on defensive pressure to secure the win. RJ Barrett contributed 23 points for the Raptors, while Kawhi Leonard added 16 points. For the Wizards, Trae Young finished with 22 points and 12 assists, and Tre Johnson scored 20 points after Washington erased an early 17-deficit in the second quarter to pull within a single point.

Raptors stay perfect 💯 Barnes, Barrett & Kawhi Leonard combine for 67 over Wizards | NBA on ESPN

Defensive Battle Against Washington’s Frontcourt Size

Despite facing a towering Washington frontcourt featuring Anthony Davis, Alexandre Sarr, and Deandre Ayton—each standing between 6-foot-10 and 7-foot-0—the Raptors relied on versatility and physical play to limit their opponents inside. Basket USA reported that Toronto’s interior defenders restricted the trio to a combined 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting and 19 total rebounds, with only two coming on the offensive glass. Anthony Davis, who scored heavily in previous outings, was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting.

It was an ugly win. A very ugly win. We couldn’t hit a shot, but we hung in there, defended, and found a solution, RJ Barrett told Basket USA regarding the offensive struggles that accompanied the defensive effort.

Darko Rajakovic Outlines Ambitious Defensive Projections

Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic praised his roster’s defensive adaptability following the win, pointing out that players like 6-foot-1 Collin Murray-Boyles—who contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 interceptions—effectively offset opponents’ height advantages.

Looking ahead at individual honors, Rajakovic offered a bold assessment of his players’ defensive futures: I’ll say it right now: Scottie Barnes will be First-Team All-Defense, Kawhi Leonard in the second, and Collin Murray-Boyles in the third. We’ll have three players in the three teams, and that says a lot about our versatility and what they can do on the floor. The projection remains notable given that the NBA traditionally names only two All-Defensive Teams each season.