In the middle of January, the Raptors sat 16th in the NBA in points allowed at 105.6 per game. Their offence, scoring a league-best 113.6 a game, was carrying them to their 27-13 record.

While this combination was working, an inability to hold opponents down was something that, down the road, could present problems for the Raptors.

Enter P.J. Tucker and Serge Ibaka.

When both were traded to the Raptors last month in a pair of deadline deals, president Masai Ujiri and general manager Jeff Weltman had one thing in mind: defensive help. In their debut, a thrilling 107-97 win over the Boston Celtics, the Raptors did something they hadn’t done most of the season: get stops late in games.

Fast forward a few weeks and the Raptors have won five straight. While only one of the teams the Raptors beat during their streak has a winning record (Indiana Pacers, 37-36), how the Raptors are winning might be the most impressive part. Just one time in that span have they allowed over 100 points, and that was in a 122-120 comeback win over the Chicago Bulls in overtime. The results from their last five wins are as follows:

Detroit Pistons, 87-75 (A)

Indiana Pacers, 116-91 (H)

Chicago Bulls, 122-120 (H)

Miami Heat, 101-84 (A)

Dallas Mavericks, 94-86  (A)

Their defence has been rock solid, allowing an average of 91.2 points per game over that span. Meanwhile, Tucker and Ibaka’s energy on the defensive side has showed, not just over the last five games, but since they’ve been members of the Raptors. Their 97.4 points allowed per game ranks lowest in the NBA since the All-star break (and, since the arrival of Tucker and Ibaka), same with their 43.2 per cent opponent field goal percentage.

Each player brings a high level of toughness to the frontcourt and neither is afraid to mix it up. In fact, Ibaka’s near-boxing match with Bulls’ centre Robin Lopez last week is what gave the Raptors life to mount their comeback win against the Bulls, according to coach Dwane Casey.

Tucker, along with Norman Powell and DeMarre Carroll, gives the Raptors an impressive defensive trio of wing players. All have the size, strength and quickness to keep some of the best wing players in the Eastern Conference in check.

The Raptors will look to continue their defensive intensity on Monday night when they host the Orlando Magic. The Raptors will welcome back Terrence Ross, who was traded along with a first-round pick to the Magic in exchange for Ibaka. Ross spent his first four and a half seasons with the Raptors, averaging just over nine points per game.

--

Catch all the action LIVE across the TSN Network with tip-off coming at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt and Raptors Pre-Game on TSN 4 at 7pm.