The Toronto Raptors have been one of the more underrated success stories of the 2025-26 season. After an excellent start, it seemed like the team was going to cool off in recent weeks.
However, they’ve rebounded and responded with outstanding performances, culminating in a 21-point comeback win over the Orlando Magic.
How Has Scottie Barnes’ Defense Elevated the Raptors This Season?
The star of the show for Toronto has been the defense. All season long, they have been a stingy unit, despite not having the name recognition of some other elite defensive teams. As a result, one roster member made the case for Scottie Barnes, their best defender, to lead the race for the DPOY award.
The Raptors have the seventh-best defensive rating in the league for the 2025-26 season. With a starting lineup featuring Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl, the onus falls almost entirely on their franchise cornerstone to keep the team afloat.
Barnes has done an excellent job of building the team into a legitimate playoff threat. That continued against Orlando, when the team rallied back from a 21-point deficit on the second night of a back-to-back.
The comeback included a late surge in the fourth quarter, where they kept Orlando from scoring while adding 13 unanswered points. The defense was at the center of it all, as they took a 107-106 lead with less than five seconds on the clock.
On the final possession, the Magic trusted their franchise star, Paolo Banchero, with the rock. As he attempted a step-back three-pointer, it was Barnes once again with a hand in his face, ensuring that the attempt was no good.
Why Does Jamal Shead Believe Scottie Barnes Deserves DPOY Recognition?
The Raptors walked away with the victory, but for their sophomore guard, Jamal Shead, there was clear evidence of the work Barnes was doing on the less glamorous end of the court. As a result, he made his case for the franchise superstar in the post-game press conference.
“Scottie, who’s supposed to be in the DPOY talks, I’m really trying to push that because we’re out there, and I have so much confidence just because a guy like that is behind me.” Beyond the overall impact, Shead provided insight into the locker room’s belief in him as the primary defender.
“So towards the end of the game, when he’s guarding Paolo [Banchero], and he’s the guy up there pressuring, I feel really confident in that outcome.”
The result went down exactly as he predicted, as the Raptors improved to 20-14 with their third win in four games.
