RJ Barrett juiced for his head-to-head in opposition to Toronto’s Scottie Barnes: ‘That’s what I would like’

ATLANTA — It goes again to highschool, the rivalry between RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes.

As Barrett identified forward of their subsequent matchup, “I busted his ass.” That was in reference to the 2018 nationwide title sport, when Barrett dropped 25 factors with 15 rebounds in Montverde Academy’s beatdown over Barnes’ squad, College Faculty.

Now Barrett and Barnes are NBA foes with mutual respect but additionally some further motivation for Sunday’s head-to-head in Toronto.

“Hopefully [I guard him again],” Barrett stated. “That’s what I would like.”

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The gasoline for Barrett, past the return to his hometown of Toronto and the necessity to snap a three-game shedding streak, is the final matchup in opposition to the Raptors lower than per week in the past. Barrett buried an exciting game-tying dunk and scored 32 factors in that contest, however the Knicks dropped a heartbreaker with Barnes grabbing clutch rebounds. It prompted a postgame remark from Barnes about exploiting a mismatch in opposition to Barrett.

“After I was posting up, RJ is an efficient defender, however I felt like with me being taller, with my dimension, I used to be going to have the ability to get a very good look across the rim each single time,” Barnes, the 2022 Rookie of the Yr, stated.

Barrett responded Friday.

“It’s what the performs are arrange for him to do. I’m not frightened about that in any respect,” he stated. “I had loads of robust battles in opposition to him in highschool. I bear in mind successful a nationwide championship in opposition to him in highschool. So we’ve been battling for some time. Lot of respect. We’ve the identical company [BDA Sports]. Lot of respect. However it’s going to be a very good battle.”

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On guarding Barnes once more Sunday, Barrett stated, “He bought to protect me, too.”

Even with out the Barnes storyline, the Toronto sport is particular for Barrett. He missed the final go to to Scotiabank Area whereas recovering from a finger laceration, however took solace within the return coming so rapidly.

Throughout final season’s go to, Barrett had roughly 1,000 buddies, household and members of his church congregation within the seats.

“It’s going to be a tricky, bodily playoff-type sport. That’s what it’s been the 3 times we performed them,” Barrett stated. “We owe them. It’s going to be a very good matchup. I’m excited.

“I can’t wait to play. I can’t wait.”

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In the course of the Jan. 16 matchup at Madison Sq. Backyard, Barnes, who scored 26 factors with six offensive rebounds, was additionally noticed on video taunting Quentin Grimes by pointing on the Knicks ahead and repeating, “You aren’t him.”

Grimes instructed the Each day Information it wasn’t private.

“He simply speaking. All people is simply speaking,” Grimes stated. “It’s what it’s. It actually ain’t nothing.”

For Grimes, the true revenge is tying the season sequence.

“They bought two, we bought one. We have to even this up. We all know what sort of sport it’s going to be of their metropolis,” Grimes stated. “It’s going to be a dogfight for positive.”