How the Timberwolves Made Scottie Barnes Disappear

On September 28, 2026, the Toronto Raptors suffered a 117-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Timberwolves' defense played a major role in Scottie Barnes' disastrous night, as he failed to score a single point. Barnes went 0-for-12 from the field, missing all of his 12 attempts, including five three-pointers.

He also did not attempt a single free throw during the game. In response to Barnes' poor performance, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch praised the collective effort of his defenders, highlighting how each player contributed to keeping Barnes from establishing himself and finding his rhythm. The team used a variety of defenders, including Jonathan Kuminga, Jaden McDaniels, Trey Lyles, and Rudy Gobert, to change matchups and control Barnes' movements.

Despite Barnes' four steals, block, three rebounds, and three assists, Toronto was outscored by 27 points during his playing time. The Timberwolves' defense was not reliant on a single player, but rather a combination of players working together to make Barnes' life difficult throughout the entire game.