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

Scottie Barnes had 25 points, including a key basket in the final minute, and the Toronto Raptors picked up their second road win of the season with a 122-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.

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.

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes was named the Eastern Conference player of the week by the NBA on Monday.

Scottie Barnes has always been able to do special things on the defensive end of the basketball court. Before he was zipping no-look passes across the floor, mastering the mid-range or posting triple-doubles,

Scottie Barnes led all scorers with 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block on 19 shots. The Raptors had seven other players score in double figures.

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

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