Scottie Barnes and the Raptors are alternating big games with brutal ones

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Out with a whimper and in with a bang … or vice versa. The Raptors have been attaching new meaning to the term inconsistency since the calendar turned to 2025.

It began with an embarrassing 54-point loss in Boston on New Year’s Eve, followed by a solid homecourt victory over the Brooklyn Nets the next day.

More recently, early last week, the Raptors, holding serve at Scotiabank Arena, actually played defence in posting wins over the Golden State Warriors and the cooled-off Celtics.

The key for the Raptors in winning back-to-back games — a rare feat for this unit — was how engaged they played on the defensive end, how freely the ball moved on offence and how confident they went about their business.

But then came a date in Milwaukee on Friday night and it all vanished. Outside of a solid stretch buoyed by the bench in the third quarter that momentarily spilled into the fourth, the Raptors were never competitive. The Bucks lit up the visitors for 37 points in the opening quarter and would play most of the night with a double-digit lead en route to a comfortable 130-112 win.

The Raptors never led.

Entering the night, Scottie Barnes had been playing at a high level in leading the Raptors to their wins over the Warriors and Celtics.
He finally unlocked his mid-range game by putting aside his penchant for settling for three-pointers, while his sublime passing evoked memories of Magic Johnson.

But against the Bucks, Barnes disappeared. He missed all six of his shots from distance and wound up just 4-for-16 from the field.
The easy thing is to chalk it up as a poor night, but that’s too convenient because it lets Barnes off the hook. He had to be better, but wasn’t.

The Bucks have been playing well led by their two-handed monster in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, who combined for 61 points in the win.

As a team, the Raptors made a total of 24 trips to the charity stripe.

Chris Boucher had been on a roll and should have been allotted more minutes in Milwaukee, but he ended up playing 15 minutes and 16 seconds.

Rookie Jonathan Mogbo, who had just returned from a stint with the Raptors 905, was the first player off the bench.

Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk came off the bench to combine for 32 points as their trade value increased.

More than anything, though, Friday night’s visit to Fiserv Forum underscored the Raptors’ inconsistency, among other items.

A home date against Orlando looms on Tuesday, a chance for the Raptors to make amends for a truly regrettable outing in their previous meeting, when the Magic — a team beset by injuries and would lose Jalen Suggs in the opening half — visited Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 3, two nights after the Raptors played so well against the Nets.

Following their tip against Orlando, the Raptors will be back on the road — where they have won only once this season — for a two-game set against the Hawks, both in Atlanta, on Thursday and Saturday.

The Raptors aren’t particularly concerned about their ranking in the Eastern Conference, but playing with a consistent level of play is a must.

The woeful Washington Wizards, who play host to the Raptors next Wednesday, are the only team in the East with a worse winning percentage than Toronto, which sits at 10-32, including a hideous 1-19 road record.

The New Orleans Pelicans, who lost at home to Toronto, have won three in a row to improve, if such a word even applies, to 11-32. They’ll square off again next Monday at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto and the Utah Jazz have the second-fewest wins in the NBA.

Winning, needless to say, has been elusive for the Raptors, whose lottery odds improve with each defeat. But a more consistent level is required.

By now, there is no excuse to explain nights such as Friday, for either Barnes or the team.

On most nights, Barnes should be the best player on the floor for either team. It’s time he plays at a level befitting his franchise tag.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com