Barnes named Rookie of the Year

Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was voted NBA Rookie of the Year on Saturday, edging Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley in a close vote. Barnes got 48 first-place votes and 378 points from a global panel of 100 sports writers and broadcasters. Mobley received 43 first-place votes and finished with 363 points. The difference of 15 points was the smallest margin in the rookie category under the current voting format that began with the 2002-03 season. Players receive five points for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote and one point for third. The award was announced shortly before the Raptors hosted the 76ers in Game 4 of their firstround series, trailing 3-0. Barnes returned after missing the previous two games with a sprained left ankle. Barnes averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 35.4 minutes per game, starting all of the 74 games he played. He led all rookies in minutes and was third in points and rebounds. The No. 4 draft pick after one season at Florida State joined Vince Carter (1999) and Damon Stoudamire (1995-96) as Raptors players to be voted Rookie of the Year.