Scottie Barnes has been playing the best defense of his career. The 23-year-old has helped the Toronto Raptors turn their season around as the team has won 5 games in a row and 7 of their last 8.

Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and 14 rebounds, Scottie Barnes had 21 points and 11 boards, and the Toronto Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-104 on Monday night for their first four-game winning streak in almost two years.

Toronto hosts Chicago looking to prolong its five-game win streak. The teams match up Friday for the first time this season.

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes earned league honors for the Player of the Week in the Eastern Conference

Things have been going pretty well for Scottie Barnes lately. The Toronto Raptors forward was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week by the NBA on Monday, bookending a perfect 3-0 stretch for the team.

Before this recent six-in-seven run of wins, and during a period when an injured Barnes missed 35 of 88 games, Toronto's record was 4-31.

In some ways, comparing Scottie Barnes and Zion Williamson is like a basketball philosophy test. As the two squared off Monday, Barnes showed why the Raptors feel their star is only getting better.

The Toronto Raptors All-Star forward went on a bit of a road trip over the weekend to check out some NFL playoff action.

Barnes and the Raptors strode into Capital One Arena in Washington on Wednesday on a four-game winning streak and made it five in dominating fashion, beating the woeful Wizards 10

The Wizards have gone bare bones and are depending on lottery luck to save them. Meanwhile, the Raptors, who have now won five straight, are approaching their own rebuild a little differently. Which track will bear the most fruit?

The Toronto Raptors could land a buy-low star from the New Orleans Pelicans and start preparing their competitive core for the future.