The Raptors continue to be one of the NBA's best success stories this season. Dwane Casey was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December following an 11-3 record.

The Raptors have one of the deepest teams in the league.

“Guys understand their roles, they’re filling their roles,” Casey said before the game. “We've got a lot of guys who are similar talents but different skill sets. We can use them at different junctures of the game and that’s good to have. … A lot of (similarly talented) players, different skill sets.”

One element the Raptors use that is unique is effectively playing a pair of backup point guards on the floor together in Delon Wright and Fred VanVleet.

“You’ve got to give credit to the coaching staff to say it doesn’t have to be either/or,” VanVleet said.

“We’ve seen it since training camp, them two going out there playing together and the dynamic that they bring, the toughness that they bring,” added DeMar DeRozan. “It shows. We love it. We’ve got to come up with a nickname. I’m gonna come up with a nickname for Delon and Freddy, for sure.”

“It’s great. Fred brings you one element of toughness, physicality, I thought he was a good matchup the other night and then there’s nights when Delon comes in, his creativity with the basketball, his passing out of situations brings another,” Casey said. “At the end of the day, you still got to be a scorer. We’ve had some games where it’s been what, 14, 13, 16 (points) whatever in the fourth quarter. We still have to be able to score when the game is on the line.”