Given his slightly-delayed arrival to 2024-25’s season, all would’ve been understood, should RJ Barrett have required a game or two to break free of rust and regather his shooting touch. Wanting no parts of an excuse, the Toronto Raptors’ do-it-all forward merely ventured to the one place where it’s most difficult to miss: the heart of the paint. Utilizing a play design that has yielded career-long positive results — a left-handed drive accompanied by a head of steam — Barrett and a teammate work a mesh-like handoff set that leaves the Denver Nuggets’ perimeter pairing in a confused stumble. Quickly sprung free, Barrett meets the high-leaping Aaron Gordon at the rim, ultimately conquering the clash with a powerful one-handed facial. Fireworks arrived almost immediately for Barrett, as the Raptors fell in a back-and-forth overtime loss on October 28, 2024. Among the key contributors from the outset, the six-year swingman provided 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes. · Oct 28, 2024