What I was thinking from start to finish of the Toronto Raptors 113-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

This marks the Raptors’ first four-game winning streak since February of 2023.

After going 5-1 in their last six games, and Scottie Barnes being named the Eastern Conference player of the week, the Toronto Raptors were back home. They played the New Orleans Pelicans Monday night, another bottom-of-the-table team at 12-34 on their season. It was a Cooper-Flagg-Off, of sorts.

Before the game, Coach Darko talked on Barnes’s defence, and how he deserves an All-Defence nod this season. Scottie has obviously been playing quite well, leading the Raptors to win three games in a row for the first time this season. Their recent stretch of five wins in six games is definitely good in the sense that winning is fun, but the tank enthusiasts are not exactly thrilled.

Those tank enthusiasts are definitely not gonna be happy about tonight, as the Raptors have now won four games in a row for the firs time since February of 2023. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though.

Here is what happened in my head throughout the game:

-RJ Barrett’s three pointer to start the game was nice, especially considering that is a part of the game he has worked on since coming to Toronto a year ago.

-I’m not sure if I am 100% with Darko yet on Barnes needing all-defence spot yet, but he has been outstanding. Especially knowing how this team looks on defence sometimes (especially when Scottie has been out).

-In the middle of the first quarter, RJ Barrett gave up an open lane to pass to Poeltl, who then turned it over. RJ, TAKE THE SHOT. Anyway the Pelicans are air-balling so much it doesn’t matter too much anyway.

-Thinking back, this is the team the Raptors got their first road win of the season against... Pelicans seem to be out-tanking Toronto at this moment, yoikes.

-By the end of the 1st quarter the Raptors were only up 5 points though, so who knows where this game could go from here.

-Okay the Pelicans got used to the Toronto air or maybe the zone defence is just that powerful because they completely and quickly closed the gap in score.

-It’s freaking COLD in Scotiabank Arena. Why don’t I ever bring a sweater???

-Okay back-to-back three’s?! Davion Mitchell and Chris Boucher are able to get some shots — which again elicits the feeling of not being able to know what to expect from this team.

-Zion Williamson is the only player on EITHER team to be in double digits with 5 minutes to go in the first... despite the Raptors leading by 8 points.

-JAMAL SHEAD I love this kid. Such a high ceiling.

-OMG Christine Sinclair is here. The Canadian soccer legend is given a Raptors jersey with the number 190 on the back to celebrate her record of 190 international goals for Canada. I fangirled.

-At halftime, the Raptors are up 56-40 on the Pelicans. My thoughts are that now I understand why this Pelicans team loses so much, especially when Zion is not playing. He is not only on a minutes restriction, but is often rested during back-to-backs. In this first half he scored 17 points for the Pelicans. The next highest scorers were DeJounte Murrayw with 9 points and then CJ McCollum with 7 points. The Raptors may not have a player up in double digits in scoring, but Poeltl and Barrett have 9 each, Dick has 8, and Scottie has 7 points. All five players who have come off the Toronto bench have scored, while only two of the four Pelicans players off the bench have put up points. It’s just a more balanced effort from Toronto.

-Still thinking about Christine Sinclair being here. Wild.

-Okay, Davion Mitchell’s defence has been good. Barnes’s has been GREAT. The Raptors are in the mix to be the NUMBER ONE DEFENCE IN THE NBA after this game, according to friend of the blog Samson Folk. From a lottery team? Wild.

-In (possibly?) the twilight of Bruce Brown’s tenure as a Raptor, he is playing well for Toronto. Very well. SO GOOD SOMEONE TRADE HIM AND GIVE US STUFF PLEASE. I just want the Siakam trade to mean something :(

-Barrett got punched in the jaw accidentally, which somehow he was fouled for. I saw this because if RJ is mysteriously ruled out next game due to jaw pain or neck soreness... it wouldn’t shock me.

-Okay there are two minutes of game left. I just hit a wall of tired despite drinking my usual 5pm coffee when I arrive to cover a game. To be fair I am covering to games at the same time. Lol. Anyway, we move.

-Just as I was complimenting the Raptors’ defence, it deteriorated. Nice. Pelicans close the game and tie up the game... it’s officially a tank-off going into the final quarter.

-COACH EJECTION!!! The Pelicans’ Coach Willie Green was ejected for coming onto the court and shouting at the referees. So that was fun. He seems like a hoot. Also, respect the dedication to the tank on his part.

-With that, the Raptors are back up by 10. Not how you tank.

-Chris Boucher is having (yet another) game. Could it also be the twilight of HIS Raptors career? If so, he’s giving other teams a damn good show.

-With that, unlike the last time I did a recap like this, the Toronto Raptors EASILY make it to the 100 point threshold, awarding everyone free pizza. Huzzah.

-Here is my take: the Raptors are a potentially good team that is bad right now. I think the Pelicans are just a bad team. Even with a former no.1 pick in Zion Williamson scoring a near 30-piece, this team looks discombobulated. They gotta blow it up, do something. I don’t think waiting for year 10 Zion to finally be healthy is working for them.

-Anyway, the Raptors win this game, 113-104. Their sixth win in the last seven games. The first time they have won four in a row since February of 2023.