10 things: Raptors' starters set the tone with forceful effort vs. Knicks

Here are 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors' 123-121 OT win over the New York Knicks.

1. The Raptors narrowly edged out the Knicks in a bruising affair that required 76 free throws and overtime to decide. Momentum swung back and forth as neither team could fully pull ahead, and both teams were insistent on getting to the paint and attacking the basket. A flurry of jumpers brought the Raptors level in the fourth, then a pair of corner threes from O.G. Anunoby created a cushion in overtime. On the flip side, the Knicks smashed the glass for 20 offensive rebounds as Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson mauled smaller defenders down low, while Jalen Brunson started hot and finished cold.

2. There was no question of effort in this game. Nick Nurse copped to issues of energy in diagnosing their loss to Atlanta on the weekend, and his team responded in kind with one of their most forceful performances on the season. The tone was set early by the starters, as Scottie Barnes flew in for a chase-down block, then jumped to save the rebound, which sent Fred VanVleet nearly crashing into the first row as he rescued the loose ball on his tippy toes, before jetting ahead to feed Gary Trent Jr. in the corner. The bench carried on that approach, with Chris Boucher stuffing Obi Toppin's dunk, followed by Precious Achiuwa diving on the floor to tip the rebound out, which eventually saw Boucher record a putback dunk racing the other way in transition. Toronto maintained their energy throughout, with Pascal Siakam recording multiple blocks while guarding in isolation despite having five fouls for much of the ending, and with Scottie Barnes chasing down several key offensive rebounds to secure the result. The Raptors need to fight this hard on a consistent basis to have any hopes of turning their season around.

3. Barnes played one of his most engaged games of the year and was entrusted to run the offense late in the fourth quarter and overtime. One staple action saw Nurse station Barnes at the elbow, with Fred VanVleet screening for Siakam at the other elbow with shooters in the corner as the main action of Toronto's halfcourt sets. It produced a high-low feed to Siakam cutting for a dunk in overtime, and a drive by Barnes where he drew two and kicked it to Anunoby, who promptly drove it inside again before sliding it back to Barnes for a layup. Barnes also crashed the glass to win key possessions, including being fouled on a putback where the Raptors took the lead late, then being tossed to the ground for more foul shots, and a putback late in overtime to recycle a missed layup from Precious Achiuwa. Defensively, Barnes took turns checking both Randle and Brunson, while also doing his usual duties of protecting the rim at center.

4. What's most impressive about Barnes in this performance was how he managed to impact the game in so many facets. He was the main ball handler at the end, but he was also used as a screener for most of the first three quarters. Barnes stationed himself in the paint for dump-offs like a traditional big, but also had sequences where he attacked from the perimeter for a poster dunk like a wing. Barnes crashed the glass relentlessly to create extra possessions late in the game, but he also nailed a catch-and-shoot three. And on the other side of the ball, Barnes switched seamlessly from containing penetration against guards to battling bigs and blocking shots in the paint. Even on a team built upon the idea of versatile players who can service every position, it's impressive to see a sophomore effectively serve so many roles within the same game.

5. VanVleet also had one of his best nights of the year, finishing with a team-high 33 points. Despite being listed as questionable with a sore back following his abysmal showing against the Hawks, VanVleet took every opportunity to attack his counterpart in Brunson, who did the same in return. It helps that VanVleet found the touch on his three-point shot, as he nailed five triples which included some heavily-contested looks. Late in the fourth, VanVleet got Quentin Grimes to bite on a shot fake, before stepping past the jumping contest for a leaning three, then followed it up with a stepback at the elbow to force the tie. VanVleet was also energized defensively, where he collected two blocks and two steals while also standing tall against Randle, forcing him into three fading jumpers in the three times VanVleet was caught on the switch.

6. All of VanVleet's hard work was nearly undone by a crucial error. With the score tied, the clock turned off and both teams in the bonus, VanVleet made a strange decision to intentionally foul Brunson in the backcourt. Fortunately, Brunson split the pair which opened the door for Barnes to take the lead on free throws, but it would have been an excruciating way to lose a game where the Raptors fought so hard. VanVleet admitted to the mistake after the game, and said "Scottie saved me" in regards to being able to force overtime.

7. Siakam was erratic on catch-and-shoot threes, but was excellent as usual in other facets. The Knicks assigned the 7-foot shot-blocker Robinson to cover him, which left Siakam to scrounge on midrange jumpers and transition chances for his 20 points. Siakam was also left open on threes as Robinson lingered to help in the paint, but he misfired on all seven attempts. Where Siakam made up the gap was by connecting the play, recording nine assists including setting up half of Toronto's threes, and by getting after it on defence. Siakam recorded three blocks; a swat on Robinson at the rim, a hard closeout on Randle for three, and walling off Barrett in isolation. He also forced Brunson into a heavily contested runner on the baseline. Defensively, there have been some moments of inconsistency with Siakam just as there is with everyone on the team, but it's great to see him take ownership on that end of the floor on a night where his scoring wasn't as impactful.

8. It was a quiet game for Anunoby until it wasn't. He didn't get his first basket until late in the fourth on a baby hook posting up the smaller Brunson, but then he nailed back-to-back threes in overtime from two gorgeous setups by Barnes and Siakam, and returned the favor to Barnes with a shovel pass for an and-one. Defensively, Anunoby was engaged as always despite battling foul trouble, and was often asked to battle bigger players for contested rebounds and shot challenges at the rim. Anunoby can sometimes be forgotten within the flow of the offense, which then leads to him forcing shots out of rhythm, but he is always reliable in the end with his shooting and defense in close games.

9. Nurse shuffled his bench rotations and opted for a tight seven-man rotation with just Chris Boucher and Precious Achiuwa seeing more than one shift off the bench. Juancho Hernangomez was solid outside of being crossed up by Randle on a dunk in the first quarter, while Malachi Flynn saw a short cameo in the second half. Otherwise, Nurse mostly stuck to a rotation that closely mirrored the formula that worked for them last season. To open the second and fourth quarters, the Raptors trotted out an entire lineup of 6-foot-9 forwards and played zone, which helped them establish their biggest lead in the first half as the Knicks simply couldn't get anything at the basket.

10. Nurse will have to be careful with minutes in Milwaukee on Tuesday. All five of his starters played 40 minutes or more, led by 46 minutes from Siakam who would have played more had he not fouled out in overtime. It will be a similarly physical encounter with the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back, and Nurse will need to extend his bench to spell his starters. Toronto will play five games this week, and Nurse used the last five off-days to practice.