Scottie Barnes expressed heartfelt admiration for Pascal Siakam after the Toronto Raptors defeated the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. The two players, who were teammates from 2021 to 2024, maintained a strong bond despite Siakam’s trade to Indiana during the 2023-24 season.
Barnes, now Toronto’s leading star, reflected on Siakam’s influence as he embraced his former teammate in a postgame moment.
“Pascal, I love him to death. He was here when I was a rookie. Looked up to him, seeing how he worked every single day. Like I said, he’s my favorite player. I love that guy to death,”
Barnes said, according to reporter William Lou.
Details of the Raptors’ Win Against the Pacers
While Barnes and Siakam shared respect off the court, Barnes led the Raptors to a commanding 122-104 victory over Siakam’s Pacers. The game remained competitive in the first half, with Indiana holding a slight edge of 48-46 at halftime.
However, Toronto dominated the second half, outscoring Indiana 76-56 in the final 24 minutes. Barnes was the standout performer with 25 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and two steals on 12-of-20 shooting. Other key contributors for the Raptors included RJ Barrett, who added 20 points and eight rebounds, Sandro Mamukelashvili with 17 points and four rebounds, Brandon Ingram contributing 13 points and five rebounds, and Immanuel Quickley with 13 points and six assists. Trayce Jackson-Davis led the Pacers with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Raptors’ Standings and Upcoming Game Outlook
With the win, Toronto improved to a 32-22 record and currently holds fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They are narrowly ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers by one game and maintain a 3.5-game cushion over the Orlando Magic. Meanwhile, the Raptors trail the Cleveland Cavaliers by half a game and the Boston Celtics by 2.5 games, underscoring the tightly contested playoff race.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will continue their home schedule by hosting the Detroit Pistons on February 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET, aiming to build on their recent success and propel their position further in the Eastern Conference standings.
Scottie Barnes shares a great moment with Pascal Siakam:
"Pascal, I love him to death. He was here when I was a rookie. Looked up to him, seeing how he worked every single day.
Like I said, he's my favorite player. I love that guy to death." pic.twitter.com/xrjMHZMtHQ
— William Lou (@william_lou) February 8, 2026
