Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett explained he respects James Harden but felt the “disrespect” when the Cleveland Cavaliers star grabbed the ball in front of the visitors’ bench during Game 5 of their first-round series.
“I take everything as disrespect,” Barrett told reporters Wednesday. “Don’t walk over to our bench and pick the ball up. James Harden is a guy that I have tremendous respect for, I always have, always watched him growing up.
“But, who cares right now? Don’t walk to our bench and grab the ball. If I grabbed the ball in front of their bench, I’d expect the same thing.”
There was a brief scuffle in the fourth quarter after the Raptors called timeout when Harden walked over and grabbed the ball. Barrett grabbed it back, and both benches convened before anything got out of hand.
Ultimately, there wasn’t much to it, but it was a moment that stood out during a back-and-forth contest.
It seemed like the Raptors were going to seize home-court advantage in the series with a win in Cleveland when they took a lead into the fourth quarter, but their offense went ice cold in the final 12 minutes.
Toronto managed just 17 points in the fourth and lost 125-120.
Barrett did what he could and led his team with 25 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, but it wasn’t enough to counter 23 points each from Harden and Evan Mobley.
Donovan Mitchell also added 19 points in a balanced effort for the victors.
Fortunately for the Raptors, they won Games 3 and 4 of the series on their home floor and will have a chance to even the series again back in Toronto during Friday’s Game 6.
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