Barnes' 27th double-double powers Raptors over Pelicans

Scottie Barnes posted his 27th double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 115-112 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. The win improves the Raptors' record to 23-49 for the season.

Barnes, the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year, added seven assists, three steals, and a block in a strong all-around performance. He shot 8-for-15 from the field. Gary Trent Jr. led all scorers with 23 points for Toronto, while RJ Barrett contributed 18 points.

The New Orleans Pelicans were led by Zion Williamson, who scored 20 points and collected nine rebounds. CJ McCollum added 20 points and nine assists. The loss drops the Pelicans to a 44-28 record.

The game was closely contested, with the Raptors holding a narrow lead for much of the fourth quarter. Toronto's defense secured the win by forcing a critical turnover from Williamson in the final seconds.