Bench helps Raptors end four-game skid

Shead has been solid all season, especially on the defensive end, but Dick and Walter haven't been playing like first-round picks so far this season. If they can deliver on that draft pedigree, the Raptors can entertain real playoff ambitions this season. Or, they can flip some of these assets for a veteran upgrade — maybe Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks.

Sandro Mamukelashvili remains one of the summer's best signings

The other veteran on the court during the Raptors big comeback was Sandro Mamukelashvili, who the Raptors signed to a two-year, $5.3M contract in the offseason. He's responded by averaging 9.8 points and shooting 37 percent from three-point range.

Mamukelashvili has been one of the best backup big men in the entire league, providing solid defense and spacing that opens up the court for his drive-heavy Raptors teammates. With Jakob Poeltl having a down year, it's been invaluable for the Raptors to be able to lean on Mamukelashvili for 20 minutes per game — he was +19 in his 19 minutes Monday.

He's also shown excellent chemistry with Shead, two underrated players who have been Toronto's best backups this season. On a night where Toronto's starters committed 15 turnovers, the bench provided 33 points and 14 assists while turning the ball over just four times.

Toronto has put together a talented starting five, one that will be reunited soon when RJ Barrett returns. But as the Raptors showed Monday, it's the bench may be the X factor that determines whether they can take the leap into the Eastern Conference elite.