The Toronto Raptors are guiding Scottie Barnes as the All-Star forward refines his game and emerges as an efficient post-up scorer.

Barnes amassed 10 points (4-16 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, 10 assists, two blocks and two steals in 35 minutes during Friday's 130-112 loss to the Bucks. Although it was Barnes' lowest scoring output since a six-point effort in the Dec.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 130-112 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

After torching the Magic, Celtics star Jayson Tatum brushed off the disrespect he received earlier from the Raptors.

Go ahead, try to judge the Toronto Raptors. You can look at their record, 10-31, and say they’re bad. You’d be right. You can observe Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley have played 37 combined games and argue their record is entirely excusable, and you’d also be right. The Raptors have provided no baseline for evaluation.

Mobley's Cavaliers are dominating and Barnes' Raptors are languishing, but both still offer reasons to dream of more.

For what it’s worth, the trade exception the Raptors acquired in the Siakam package with the Indiana Pacers expires in a few days. According to the arcane rules surrounding the NBA’s trade guidelines, an expiration date is attached to trade exceptions. It arrives one year after a deal is engineered.

Barnes finished with a team-high 23 points (9-21 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals in 40 minutes during Monday's 104-101 win over the Warriors.

Ochai Agbaji scored the go-ahead basket with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter and the Toronto Raptors rallied to beat the Golden State Warriors 104-101.

Payton Pritchard had 20 points to lead the Celtics. Jayson Tatum had just 16 points and Jaylen Brown had 10, with the All-Star duo combining to make just 9 of 31 shots.

Jayson Tatum was asked if Brandon Jennings calling him soft or Scottie Barnes clapping in his face made him want to play more angry.

The Raptors are now more than halfway through their 2024-25 season, and the NBA’s trade deadline is less than three weeks away, landing on Feb. 6. That makes now as good a time as ever for another Raptors mailbag.