The Toronto Raptors delivered a thrilling performance at Scotiabank Arena on December 28, 2025, storming back from a double-digit deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors 141-127 in overtime. In a game packed with drama, history-making feats, and clutch moments, it was Scottie Barnes who etched his name into the franchise record books with a triple-double that left fans and analysts buzzing long after the final buzzer.
Heading into this matchup, the Warriors were riding high on a three-game winning streak, fresh off a Christmas Day victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Steph Curry had led the charge in that contest with 23 points, and Golden State had finally found some consistency in its rotation. Head coach Steve Kerr, who had experimented with nine different starting lineups over nine games, had stuck with the same group—Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Quinten Post—for five straight outings. "We have a rotation. We're healthy," Kerr had confidently stated just days earlier, crediting the team’s depth at center and the newfound stability as key reasons for their recent success.
The Warriors faced the Raptors on the first night of a back-to-back, the opener of a three-game road trip that would test their endurance and adaptability. Load management was a priority: veteran De’Anthony Melton sat out with a knee issue, while Al Horford suited up for this contest but would rest the following game. Seth Curry remained sidelined with sciatic nerve irritation. Meanwhile, the Raptors, who had just suffered a tough road loss to the Washington Wizards, were eager to start their five-game homestand on a positive note. They too were shorthanded, missing centers Jakob Poeltl (back) and Collin Murray-Boyles (illness), but welcomed back RJ Barrett after a 15-game absence.
The game tipped off at 3:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area and SportsNet, with fans on both sides eager to see if the Warriors could extend their streak or if the Raptors would defend their home court. Oddsmakers gave Golden State a slight edge, favoring them by 4.5 points, but Toronto had other plans.
From the outset, the Warriors looked poised to take control. Curry was in vintage form, pouring in a game-high 39 points, including 14 in a dazzling third quarter. Draymond Green chipped in 21 points, while Jimmy Butler added 19. The Warriors built a lead that ballooned to 13 points in the second half, and with the clock winding down in the fourth, it seemed their momentum might carry them to another win.
But the Raptors, fueled by a raucous home crowd and a sense of urgency, clawed their way back. Immanuel Quickley, who finished with 27 points and seven assists, and Brandon Ingram, with 26 points and six assists, kept Toronto within striking distance. The real difference-maker, though, was Scottie Barnes. Playing out of position as a floating center, Barnes was relentless on the boards, crashing the glass and orchestrating the offense with poise beyond his years. "I’ve just got a different role. I’m playing the five," Barnes explained after the game. "Trying to figure out different ways to orchestrate the offence and still be aggressive. Just trying to find those ways, when to screen, when to be out of the way, when to be in the dunker (spot), find ways to still playmake, how I can still attack the game and still (have) my aggression."
With under a minute left in regulation, the Raptors trailed by seven. Three consecutive scoring possessions brought them level with just 46 seconds remaining. After a Warriors bucket regained the lead, Barnes delivered the play of the night: grabbing a critical offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer and tipping it in with 24.8 seconds to go, tying the game at 122 apiece. "Nothing was really going through my head," Barnes said of his clutch putback. "I was just crashing the glass and putting the ball back into the rim, just seeing where the ball was going, just putting it right back in. I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to win."
The Warriors had a chance to seal the win, but Curry was whistled for an offensive foul against Raptors guard Jamal Shead, handing Toronto the last possession. Although regulation ended with the score tied, the momentum had shifted decisively.
Overtime belonged entirely to the Raptors. They exploded for the first 10 points in just two minutes, leaving the Warriors scrambling to respond. Barnes continued to dominate, finishing with 23 points, a franchise-record 25 rebounds, and 10 assists. He became only the 23rd player in NBA history to record at least 23 points, 25 rebounds, and 10 assists in a single game—a feat achieved more often by legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor than by any active player. "He was really, really high level today," Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic praised. "Amazing grit from the whole group and Scottie was leading that with his rebounding effort, leading with playmaking, leading with defence. It was an impressive performance, and I'm looking forward to watch film tonight again, and enjoying that."
Even Curry, despite his own scoring heroics, acknowledged Barnes’s impact on the game. "He plays at his own pace," Curry said. "He's a huge presence out there, and he's a great playmaker, even if it's kind of untraditional, so he takes advantage of mismatches. He got them extra possessions all night, nine offensive rebounds by himself. He was just relentless on the boards."
The Raptors’ win snapped the Warriors’ three-game streak and marked a triumphant return for RJ Barrett, who contributed 12 points in 24 minutes after his lengthy absence. Media reports during the game also indicated that Toronto had signed free-agent center Mo Bamba to a one-year deal, aiming to bolster their depleted frontcourt for the remainder of the homestand.
For Toronto, this victory was more than just another tick in the win column. It was a statement of resilience, teamwork, and individual brilliance—especially from Barnes, whose performance will be remembered as one of the finest in Raptors history. As the team looks ahead to the next challenge against the Orlando Magic, there’s a renewed sense of optimism in the air at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors have shown they can weather adversity and rise to the occasion, setting the stage for an exciting close to the calendar year.
