No centre, no problem.
Scottie Barnes was the Toronto Raptors' nominal starting five on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. He did the job and then some, pulling down a franchise-record tying 25 rebounds in a stirring 141-127 overtime win.
His heroic effort tied the previous high-water mark set by Bismack Biyombo in 2016 against the Indiana Pacers. Barnes also became the first player in Raptors history to record a 20-20 triple-double, with 23 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists.
Nikola Jokic is the only other active player to exceed thresholds of 20 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in a game.
His 25 boards were also the highest recorded by a player this season, surpassing 76ers centre Andre Drummond's mark of 24 set on Nov. 23 against the Miami Heat.
The spectacular effort was punctuated by Barnes grabbing four rebounds during a one-minute span in overtime, including three offensive boards resulting in two second-chance baskets.
The six-foot-eight forward also hammered down a lob from Jamal Shead and drove down the lane for another big dunk, effectively sealing the win.
Barnes and Sandro Mamukelashvili have filled Toronto's centre minutes while Jakob Poeltl has been in and out of the lineup with lower back stiffness.
Barnes has played spot minutes at centre throughout his career, but usually plays a point-forward role. And while Mamukelashvili is serving as Toronto's back-up centre, his skillful play style lacks physicality and is more typical of a forward.
"We got a couple big men down," Barnes said to Sportsnet's Danielle Michaud after the game. "You know, Jak, CMB (Collin Murray-Boyles), we got a couple guys out. But we just gotta do next man up."
Poeltl, the Raptors' only seven-footer, has missed five of Toronto's last six games, playing only seven minutes in the lone game he did appear in against the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 21.
