Barnes’s triple-double powers Raptors past Nets, clinching Toronto’s first playoff berth in 4 years

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Scottie Barnes had a triple-double as the Toronto Raptors routed the Brooklyn Nets 136-101 on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

Barnes had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists as Toronto (46-36) won its regular-season finale to sew up fifth in the East.

The Raptors win coupled with losses by the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks on Sunday jumped up to fifth in the standings and will face the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.

The last time Toronto was in the playoffs was in 2022, when they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., led the Raptors with 26 points, and Brandon Ingram added 25 points with nine rebounds.

Starting Toronto point guard Immanuel Quickley didn’t return to the court after intermission due to tightness in his right hamstring. He had four points, five assists and two rebounds in 17 minutes of play.

Brooklyn’s Chaney Johnson had a double-double off the bench with 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Nets (20-62) finished the season with three consecutive losses. E.J. Liddell had 17 points and Ben Saraf had 15 points.