Scottie Barnes returns, but Raptors lose Ja’Kobe Walter (hip pointer)

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By far the most encouraging part to Sunday’s 116-115 overtime win by the Raptors over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers — a tip that began in somniferous fashion but produced a thrilling finish — was the return of Scottie Barnes.

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Given it was the first of two straight games between two teams battling mid-season for playoff seeding, one expected much more when it came to basketball excellence in what should have been a playoff-type backdrop pitting teams separated by one-half game in the Eastern Conference standings.

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Then again, several high-end players were unavailable in the wake of various injuries.

Fortunately, one wasn’t Barnes, who missed Toronto’s visit to Boston on Friday because of a knee issue. He was back in the lineup against Philly and his presence was immediately felt, scoring 20 points in the opening half and putting his fingerprints all over the game, finishing with 31.

Barnes had a quiet third quarter when Toronto’s predominantly small lineup had a tough time creating offence, turning a 10-point lead at intermission into an eight-point deficit.

But an early Raptors run to begin the fourth quarter would help create a much-welcome level of intensity from both teams. And a night brimming with so much anticipation would be salvaged, featuring two late video reviews that went Toronto’s way.

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With one second left on the clock, Barnes produced the winning point from the foul line, making his first attempt and then wisely, and intentionally, missing his second.

Barnes and Sixers star Tyrese Maxie took turns playing at elite levels, but each had complementary players stepping up in big moments, including Toronto rookie Collin Murray-Boyles and his double-double.

Consider the injury plight of the Raptors, who were missing three starters — Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl — versus the Sixers, then lost Ja’Kobe Walter, who was able to give the Raptors five minutes before he was lost for the balance of the night because of a right hip pointer.

That gave more floor time to rookie Alijah Martin who contributed nine points and eight rebounds off the bench in what should be a confidence-booster for the Raptors’ second round pick (39th overall).

Gradey Dick was summoned off the bench as well, but he picked up two fouls in five minutes. His third foul came in the second quarter after he was on the floor for two minutes.

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The Sixer weren’t without their own injury woes.

Joel Embiid doesn’t have to be that much of a presence during the regular season, especially with the emergence of Maxie, who will be in the MVP conversation. The key for Embiid, a former league MVP, is being close to healthy, if that’s even possible, for the post-season.

When fully engaged, the big man is among the very best, a force whose jump shot is virtually unstoppable.

Embiid was ruled out for Sunday’s tip, a combination of left knee injury management and left groin soreness.

His presence in Toronto often adds a different dimension to the proceedings, dating back to Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beater in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern semifinal that left Embiid in tears.

Three years later, Embiid earned some revenge when he led Philly to its 4-2 series win over Toronto in the opening round, the clincher produced in Toronto.

Embiid, for the record, hasn’t played a game in Toronto since October 2023, which is a shame.

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Paul George, by the way, was also a late scratch for Philly because of left knee soreness. At his peak powers, George led a Pacers team that couldn’t get over the hump. But like Embiid, George needs to be available for Philly when the playoffs arrive.

Point counterpoint

Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead will occasionally be seen together on the court in the fourth quarter of a game.

For the first time this season, the Raptors point guards started the game as part of a unit that once again featured Barnes as the de facto centre.

Shead, as is his nature, was fearless in getting into the paint and confident in releasing a floater in producing the game’s first basket.

Having two ball-handlers on the floor at the same time is a luxury and the Quickley-Shead look also meant IQ could play off the ball.

The result was noteworthy as Shead poured in 22 points on 7-for-15 shooting — including a short floater from a Murray-Boyles assist with two seconds left in regulation to tie the game 107-107 — while Quickley added 20.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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