In a spectacular showdown, the Toronto Raptors successfully neutralized the fastest offense in the current NBA space, clinching a 130-122 victory. Scottie Barnes erupted for 21 points, 12 assists, and 12 rebounds. This marks the Raptors’ third consecutive win, establishing their longest winning streak of the season. Now, with the youthful squad showing a voracious appetite for more victories, Coach Darko Rajakovic might find himself reaching into his pockets.
Post-game celebrations took an unexpected turn as the Raptors coaching staff jubilantly chanted “pizza” in honor of the triumph. When questioned about this peculiar choice, Darko disclosed a promise he had made to the players and staff. Apparently, he pledged that if the team secured three back-to-back wins, he would treat them to a special dinner. Surprisingly, the players opted for a laid-back pizza party instead of a fancier dining experience.
"I don't know anything about pizza." 😂
– Coach Darko Rajakovic responds to his pizza party promise after the Raptors win their 3rd-straight 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/iiV8hW9Cpc
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2024
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Adding a delightful twist to the heartening moment, Darko injected humor when asked about his preferred pizza toppings. With a smile, he expressed his fondness for the timeless classic Margherita. The laughter entered the conversation, veering towards the ever-controversial topic of pineapple on pizza. To that, Darko playfully rolled his eyes to the side and vehemently rejected the notion, leaving no room for debate.
In their recent triumphant streak, the Raptors conquered against the Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and the Pacers. Up next, they will face West’s talents in the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors, before facing the Charlotte Hornets from their pool.
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Scottie Barnes etches his name in Raptors’ history
In the recent victory, Scottie Barnes notched his fourth triple-double of the season, solidifying his leadership role with the franchise. Through constantly wowing the fans, Barnes has garnered unwavering trust from the crowd and notables names in the franchise. All thanks to his dependable range and tendency to involve teammates.
However, there is more. As if playing 4D chess, Barnes has been steadily showing improvement on the defensive end as well. A standout moment came with his remarkable 21/12/12 stat line, as he accompanied it with 5 blocks. With that, the feat etched his name in the franchise books, making him the first player in Raptors’ history to achieve a triple-double with 5 blocks in a single game.
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Even though the Raptors are not going to be immediate contenders, Barnes’ evolving bag of tricks is helping the franchise mount the much-desired change in culture. A sentiment translated through Pascal Siakam’s trade. With that, Barnes can provide Toronto stability in terms of strategic planning in the near future.
Read More – Matt Barnes Controversy: NBA Legend Sidelined By $166.22 Company Following Bizarre High School Incident