Raptors hang on late, snap Suns' 4-game winning streak

Never let it be said that the 2014-15 Toronto Raptors play a boring game of basketball.

The Raptors won their fifth consecutive game on Monday, snapping the four-game win streak of the visiting Phoenix Suns in the process. The 104-100 decision featured just about everything the league has come to expect from the 12-2 Raptors early on: a cold start, an enormous run and an exciting finish.

The Suns began the game hot, putting the Raptors' defense on its heels by shooting from long range early and often, including in transition. That should have been the scouting report, but Toronto took a few minutes to adjust, failing to find their groove until the middle of the second quarter.

With a six-point lead at half, the Raptors did their usual third-quarter damage, outscoring Phoenix 27-18. Through 14 games, the Raptors are outscoring opponents by 4.4 points in the third frame, second only to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The book so far has been that once the Raptors hit their stride, it's over. That's not how the Suns play, though, and Jeff Hornacek's up-tempo squad found their offensive footing in the fourth. The Suns shot 11-of-16 in the final quarter and 7-of-10 from long range, but they coughed the ball up six times, just enough for Toronto to hang on.

Toronto leaned heavily on Jonas Valanciunas in this one, and he turned in maybe his best offensive game as a pro. Valanciunas shot 10-of-11 from the floor for a career-high 27 points, adding 11 rebounds and really exploiting the Suns' lack of interior presence.

Both teams had five players score in double-figures, including their respective bench scorers; Lou Williams scored 18 points in 26 minutes off the bench to 16 points in 22 minutes for Isaiah Thomas. That's a one-on-one game that'd be worth watching.

From here the Raptors head out on the road to meet the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, while the Suns return home to host the Denver Nuggets.