3 players who have stepped up on the Raptors’ five-game win streak

3. OG Anunoby

The 24-year-old forward averaged 17.5 points over Toronto’s first four games, but was shooting just 36.4% from the field during the Raptors’ 1-3 start. The offensive leap everyone expected didn’t seem to be coming, though Anunoby quickly turned things around after a slow start.

Since the Indiana game, he’s chipping in with 24.0 points a night while shooting 47% from the field. He erupted for a career-high 36 points against the Knicks, scoring at least seven points in every quarter. That was followed in Washington with a 21-point effort in 41 minutes, the third time in the last four games Anunoby has logged at least 40 minutes.

OG Anunoby continues to be a game-changer for the Toronto Raptors.

Even as Anunoby increases his contributions on the scoreboard, the shutdown specialist remains the anchor of a stout defense for the Raptors, who are allowing just 100.2 points per game. That number is third-fewest in the NBA behind only the Heat and Nuggets.

No more was that apparent than against the Knicks. New York’s Julius Randle had a monster first quarter, scoring 18 points as the Knicks took a 34-26 lead after 12 minutes. Afterward, Anunoby locked the All-Star forward down, helping limit Randle to just four points off two-of-eight shooting over the final three quarters.

The Raptors have come together during this winning streak, but Anunoby has been one of the tone-setters.