Trying to get the Toronto Raptors back in the playoffs has been keeping Scottie Barnes up at night for the past week.
He can rest easy now.
Barnes had his third triple-double of the season and ninth of his career to lead Toronto in a 136-101 romp over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday as the Raptors clinched a playoff spot in the last game of the regular season. Losses by the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks at the same time moved Toronto into fifth in the Eastern Conference, meaning the Raptors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.
"To be honest, basically this last week it was hard to sleep," said Barnes of all the playoff scenario possibilities with Orlando, Atlanta, and the Philadelphia 76ers also in the mix. "We saw where we was at, what was at stake tonight. We had to try to grind, play hard, do what we do on defence. Try to be effective in any way.
"It was fun, it was good to be a bit nervous out there. I think we took it the right way."
Barnes had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists as Toronto (46-36) had a 16-win improvement over last season's draft lottery team. He became the first player in Raptors history to have three or more triple-doubles in multiple seasons.
It's the first time the Raptors have been in the playoffs since the 2021-22 season, when they lost to the Sixers in six games.
"It feels great. This is what we wanted to do as a team. We got here, we’ve still got some ways to go," said Barnes, who was the NBA's rookie of the year in 2022. "From training camp, we believed it. We were confident we could get in this position.
"The season is always going to have some ups and downs, but if you get through it, push through it, I thought we did a great job of pushing through it."
RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., led the Raptors with 26 points, and Brandon Ingram added 25 points with nine rebounds. Barnes, Barrett and Ingram are three of the handful of Toronto players with any kind of post-season experience.
They've all given their young teammates some advice on what to expect when the first-round series begins in Cleveland.
"Whatever each player is good at, and how they've been effective all year, we need it consistently on a night-to-night basis," said Ingram on his advice. "It's time to tighten up on recovery, sleep, nutrition and having to focus when we get out on the basketball floor so everybody is fresh and just ready to play their role."
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If either Orlando or Atlanta had won on Sunday, then the Raptors would have taken the sixth seed in the East and faced the New York Knicks in the first round. Barrett, who started his career with the Knicks, has familiarity with playing playoff basketball in both Cleveland and New York.
"This is gonna be interesting, because I’ve already played Cleveland before in a 4-5 matchup (with the Knicks)," he said in Toronto's locker room at Scotiabank Arena. "I think for the young guys, it’s probably better to play in Cleveland than Madison Square Garden for their first time.
"It’s gonna be loud in there. It’s gonna be physical. We’re gonna be on the road. Gotta go get one."
Starting Toronto point guard Immanuel Quickley didn't return to the court after intermission due to tightness in his right hamstring. He had four points, five assists and two rebounds in 17 minutes of play.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic said that Quickley would get an MRI and that the Raptors were still waiting on results.
Rajakovic's post-game news conference was delayed as he, general manager Bobby Webster, and the rest of the team watched an undermanned Boston Celtics complete a 113-108 upset of the Magic to move the Raptors into the fifth seed.
"We never set a goal of get this seed or that seed," said Rajakovic. "We were just focusing on our work, focusing on the things that were in our control. The hand played out well for us this year.
"We saw a lot of growth from this roster. The best part of it is that we’re gonna have an opportunity to play in the playoffs."
Barrett said he had little investment in who won between Boston and Orlando, even as the outcome of that game had a direct impact on Toronto.
“I didn’t care. I’d have been completely fine playing the Knicks," said Barrett. "I didn’t really care who won.
"I’m just happy we’re in the playoffs."
