James Johnson shows off wide range of skills as Raptors snap losing streak: 'We love his energy'

Looking for a spark to lift his team out of a four-game losing skid, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey reinserted swingman James Johnson into the starting lineup.

It was exactly what Toronto needed to snap the streak.

Johnson came in and delivered a strong all-around performance, playing a season-high 36 minutes in Saturday's 109-96 win over the Celtics. He finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while also contributing four assists and two blocks. A ferocious slam dunk late in the fourth quarter helped put an exclamation point on the victory.

The Raptors had been struggling defensively of late and it's at that end of the floor where Johnson was most impactful. Celtics players guarded by Johnson went just 3-of-9 from the field as he attacked them relentlessly with his brand of aggressive and intimidating defence.

"He covers up a lot of mistakes. He covers a lot of floor, a lot of ground. His effort has been unbelievable this season and we need him to keep it up," Kyle Lowry said of Johnson. "We love his energy, we love his enthusiastic nature and what he brings to the table."

Saturday's performance was Johnson at his best. He stayed within himself - his career has been plagued by instances of trying to do too much, especially offensively - and the hope is that he can find that form more consistently as he continues to mature as a basketball player.

With DeMar DeRozan set to return over the next few days the starting role is most likely temporary, but Johnson showed he's up to the task when called upon.  Beloved by his teammates for his fiery nature, Johnson's toughness, determination, and abilities as an individual defender will certainly prove invaluable to the Raptors more than a few times down the stretch and in the playoffs.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr