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.

Whether it was his one on one matchup with Zion Williamson or simply deciding to take over a game when a game was there for the taking, credit Scottie Barnes for taking his game to another level. Toronto’s recent run of success hasn’t entirely been a result of Barnes’ improved play,

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

There have been stretches during Scottie Barnes’ four-year run in Toronto when the face of the Raptors’ franchise was able to take his overall game to another level. A two-game sample size against a talent-challenged Atlanta Hawks team isn’t going to wipe away some of the concerns surrounding Barnes’ game,

The Toronto Raptors will be out to extend their season-best winning streak to six games and exact some revenge against the visiting Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

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

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.

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?

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.