The Toronto Raptors (14-32) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (12-35) 113-104 on Monday night, marking their first four-game winning streak since February 2023. Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes led Toronto’s balanced attack, each recording a double-double.
Poeltl contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Barnes, recently named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, added 21 points, 11 boards, and eight assists. RJ Barrett chipped in 17 points, and Chris Boucher came off the bench to score 14, including four three-pointers.
The Raptors started strong, building a 16-point halftime lead with a 56-40 advantage. Despite a third-quarter surge from New Orleans, Toronto responded with a 39-point fourth quarter to secure the win.
Zion Williamson paced the Pelicans with 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting. CJ McCollum added 22 points, and Dejounte Murray tallied 21 points and eight assists. However, New Orleans struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 6-of-28 (21.4%) from three-point range.
The Pelicans also faced adversity late in the game, as head coach Willie Green was ejected with 7:22 remaining in the fourth quarter for arguing a non-call on a Williamson drive. New Orleans has now lost 19 of their 23 road games this season.
Jakob Poeltl’s efficient shooting, combined with Toronto’s 54-46 rebounding edge and solid free-throw shooting (78.3%), proved decisive. Barnes, despite a tough shooting night (6-of-21 from the field), showcased his versatility by contributing across multiple categories.
