Exploding against Curry! 23+25+10! The most expensive max contract player in team history

When exactly did O'Neal make his comeback?

He went berserk, Barnes fully exploded as the starting center, playing roughly 42 minutes, hitting 11 of 17 shots, racking up an efficient 23 points, 25 rebounds (9 offensive), and 10 assists triple-double, along with 3 steals and 1 block, guiding the Raptors to a 141-127 OT win over the Warriors.

However, the extended minutes and constant battles inside exhausted Barnes severely; after coming off the court, he collapsed into his seat, truly giving everything he had.

This guy is just unstoppable, dominating the paint like a force of nature, completely dismantling the Warriors to the point they couldn't cope.

Barnes was born on August 1, 2001, a 2.03m tall wing with a 2.21m wingspan, selected 4th overall in the 2021 first round. He has played five seasons for the Raptors so far and signed the franchise’s highest-ever five-year $224 million super max contract in 2024. Since debut, he has been a key player and an irreplaceable starter for the team.

So far this season, Barnes averages 19.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, shooting 50.7% overall and hitting 1.2 three-pointers per game at 35.4% accuracy, all career bests. Under his leadership, the Raptors currently hold a 19-14 record, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, with strong prospects to make the playoffs again—their last postseason appearance was in 2022.

Notably, Barnes was teammates with popular internet player Wu Yonghao at Montverde Academy in the U.S., and they share a close friendship off the court, though their career paths have diverged significantly.

Back to the main topic, here are the team stats for the Raptors:

On the Warriors’ side,Curry took 30 shots, making 12, including 4 of 11 from three-point range, and was perfect 11 of 11 from the free-throw line, scoring a wasted 39 points.Draymond Green contributed 21 points unexpectedly, while Butler’s 16 shots yielded only 19 points.

Their interior defense was exposed again. The Warriors might finally realize where their roster weaknesses lie. In the upcoming trade market, if they can't acquire Giannis or Davis, getting blue-collar centers like Claxton from Brooklyn or Looney from Portland could be a viable option.

Currently, the Warriors hold a 16-16 record, their winning percentage back to 50%, ranking eighth in the Western Conference, trailing the sixth-place Timberwolves by four wins, putting their direct playoff hopes in a precarious position.