Raptors 122–109 Kings: Scottie Barnes’ Third-Quarter Surge Lifts Toronto in Sacramento
The Toronto Raptors flipped the game with a dominant third quarter, riding Scottie Barnes’ two-way brilliance to a 122–109 road win over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.
Toronto erased a halftime deficit by outscoring Sacramento 43–21 in the third quarter, improving to 27–19 on the season. The Kings, undone by another defensive collapse after the break, fell to 12–33.
First Half: Kings Control the Pace
For the first 24 minutes, Raptors vs Kings belonged to Sacramento.
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First Quarter: Kings 30, Raptors 26
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Second Quarter: Kings 31, Raptors 26
The Kings shot confidently at home, moving the ball well and capitalizing on straight-line drives. Toronto stayed within striking distance offensively, but defensive breakdowns allowed Sacramento too many clean looks.
At halftime, the Kings held a 61–52 lead, appearing in control.
Third Quarter: Barnes Takes Over, Raptors Explode
Everything changed after the break.
Toronto unleashed one of its best quarters of the season:
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Third Quarter: Raptors 43, Kings 21
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Nine-point deficit flipped into a 95–82 Raptors lead
Scottie Barnes was the catalyst, scoring 14 of his 23 points in the period. He attacked mismatches, knocked down jumpers, and pushed the tempo in transition.
Defensively, Toronto turned up the pressure, forcing turnovers and rushed shots that fueled quick offense. By the end of the quarter, Sacramento’s early rhythm had completely vanished.
Fourth Quarter: Raptors Close with Composure
With a 13-point cushion entering the final period, Toronto focused on control rather than pace.
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Fourth Quarter: 27–27
Sacramento never found the sustained run it needed. Each small push was answered by timely Raptors buckets, many created through Barnes’ playmaking and advantage basketball against a scrambling defense.
Toronto closed out Raptors vs Kings without drama, securing a convincing 122–109 victory that felt emphatic by the final buzzer.
Box Score Highlights
Toronto Raptors (27–19)
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Scottie Barnes: 23 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists
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Team scoring by quarter: 26 – 26 – 43 – 27
Sacramento Kings (12–33)
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Multiple double-figure scorers
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Team scoring by quarter: 30 – 31 – 21 – 27
Takeaways From Raptors vs Kings
Barnes as the engine:
Barnes’ third-quarter takeover and near triple-double continue to cement him as Toronto’s offensive and defensive focal point.
Raptors’ halftime adjustments:
Increased defensive intensity and faster decision-making completely flipped the game after halftime.
Kings’ second-half struggles:
Sacramento’s 21-point third quarter highlighted ongoing issues with defensive discipline and resilience once momentum shifts.
Final Word
Raptors vs Kings was decided in 12 explosive minutes.
Behind Scottie Barnes’ third-quarter eruption, Toronto stormed back from a halftime deficit and cruised to a 122–109 road win, turning a tight contest into a statement second-half performance.