Scottie Barnes had 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists Sunday, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets 136-101 to clinch their first playoff spot since 2022.
In recording his third triple-double of the season and the ninth of his career, Barnes helped the Raptors (46-36) clinch the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
RJ Barrett scored 26 points, and Brandon Ingram added 25 points for Toronto. Ja’Kobe Walter and Jakob Poeltl each scored 11 points, while A.J. Lawson chipped in with 10 points.
Immanuel Quickley had four points and five assists for Toronto and did not return for the second half because of a tight hamstring.
Chaney Johnson had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets (20-62), who are in a lottery spot. Tyson Etienne scored 20 points, and E.J. Liddell had 17 points before fouling out with 3:12 left in the fourth quarter. Ben Saraf scored 15 points and also picked up six fouls.
Toronto took a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter. The lead reached 20 on Barrett’s layup with 9:47 left. Ingram’s layup made it a 25-point lead with 7:39 to go. Barrett’s free throw increased the margin to 30 with 5:19 remaining.
The Raptors led 32-27 after the first quarter.
A 7-0 run thrust the Raptors into a 13-point lead with 9:51 to play in the second quarter. The Nets ended the run when they won two offensive rebounds off missed shots before Johnson stuffed in a layup. Brooklyn narrowed the margin to six on Smith’s 3-pointer with 3:41 to play in the half. Toronto worked the lead back to 11 before taking 70-61 lead into halftime.
The Raptors took advantage of the Nets inexperienced lineup to shoot 66.7 percent (28-for-42) from the field in the first half.
The Nets shot 44 percent (22-for-50) from the field in the first half but were able to match Toronto’s eight 3-pointers.
Lawson’s 3-pointer bumped Toronto’s lead to 19 with 4:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Ingram converted two free to increase the margin to 21. Toronto led 100-84 after three quarters.
