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N.C. — RJ Barrett scored 23 points, Jakob Poeltl had two big plays in the final 90 seconds and the Toronto Raptors overcame a career-high 45 points from Miles Bridges to beat Charlotte 123-117 and hand the Hornets their ninth straight loss in the NBA on Wednesday night.
Scottie Barnes, who learned before the game he’ll play in his first All-Star game as an alternate, finished with 18 points for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley also scored 18, and Poeltl chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Raptors (18-33) closed a six-game road trip with a 2-4 record.
“It was the little things — two games where one if we get a rebound, we win,” Barrett said. “In another, if I just hold the ball, we win. It’s the little things like that. We played hard-fought games in four out of the six games, so we are just learning that every little thing matters in a game.”
Bridges had a highly efficient shooting night, topping his previous career high of 41 points set Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers by making 17 of 27 from the field, including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. He also had eight rebounds and seven assists.
Bridges is only the fourth Charlotte player to record back-to-back 40-point games, joining Glen Rice (twice), Kemba Walker and Terry Rozier.
