Toronto Raptors: Top five performances from perfect week 15

4. Kyle Lowry

Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers

Stat line: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 50 FG%

This week was extremely important for Kyle Lowry. He is now the franchise leader in assists, surpassing Jose Calderon. It is fair to say nobody saw this coming from Lowry when the Raptors traded for him, back in 2012. He’s now the gold standard in this organization. Bet your house that No. 7, once Lowry retires, will hang in the rafters of Scotiabank Arena (or whatever it’s called in the year 2030).

Fresh off his record-breaking performance, Lowry entered the week hoping to sustain the momentum gained through the team’s win streak. Up against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Collin Sexton, Lowry prioritized offence and finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Lowry did most of his damage in the second half, putting up 14 points, including more than a few clutch baskets down the stretch as Cleveland pushed for a comeback. Lowry is rarely thrown off-kilter by slow starts, and he wasn’t thrown off by his slow start against the Cavaliers.

Lowry’s defence remains as good as ever this season, even as the guard gets up in age. We know most every season Lowry is among the league leader in charges taken, but he’s also solid at getting his hands on balls and piling up steals. Currently averaging 1.3 steals per game, Lowry collected three steals against the turnover-prone Cavs.

Not always a box-score monster, Lowry’s importance to Toronto’s success can’t be understated. He’s the team’s engine, its heartbeat, and as Lowry goes, so do the Toronto Raptors. Against Cleveland, he flexed his scoring muscles and he’ll have to continue to do so for as long as Norman Powell remains out of the Raptors’ lineup.