TORONTO — The Raptors proved what has been pretty clear for the previous six weeks or so: the Warriors aren’t a ok group to pencil them in over anybody.
The Warriors are leaving The Six with their woes — and what Steve Kerr known as as irritating a loss as Golden State has had this yr.
“We are not disciplined enough to win these close games,” Kerr stated. “And every game is going to be close right now. We probably play more close games than anybody in the league, so we have to win in the margins. We’re not winning in the margins, and that’s coaching.”
Steph Curry pressured a tricky 3-pointer with 40 seconds left down one, resulting in a breakaway for Toronto in crunch time. Then after they bought the cease they wanted, Buddy Hield air-balled a 3 that may’ve despatched the sport into additional time.
The Warriors (19-20) led by as a lot as 9 within the fourth quarter, however Curry and Co. couldn’t fend off Toronto in a 104-101 defeat. The Raptors now have 9 wins and the Warriors, for the primary time all season, are beneath .500. They’re now 11-13 in clutch video games.
Curry registered 26 factors, seven assists and 7 rebounds within the defeat. Raptors reserve Chris Boucher, a former Warrior, torched Golden State within the fourth, scoring 17 of his 18 factors within the ultimate body.
“Everybody’s frustrated,” Kevon Looney stated. “We want to win. We don’t want to be a .500 team.”
Earlier than the sport, Steve Kerr and a few Warriors have been speaking about how in 2021, the Raptors smacked Golden State, 130-77, in Tampa Bay. It was in the course of the pandemic and marked one of many lowest factors of Kerr’s 10-year tenure. Nico Mannion, James Wiseman and Jordan Poole have been the one Warriors to log no less than half-hour and postgame press conferences have been masked over Zoom.
The Warriors received a championship the subsequent yr. Now they’re making an attempt to scale up the mountain once more, preventing in opposition to harsh circumstances. The height seems larger and better daily.
Their step down the mountain Monday got here with out Draymond Inexperienced, who was dominated out with an sickness and lingering again damage, in addition to Jonathan Kuminga and different rotation regulars.
Andrew Wiggins, taking part in in his first recreation in his hometown of Toronto since 2018, hit a pair of early 3s, however the different Warriors struggled to make the Raptors pay for promoting out on Curry.
Davion Mitchell, nicknamed “Off Night” for his tenacious on-ball protection, top-locked Curry anyplace he went.
A number of Warriors offensive possessions went nowhere, with the ball swinging aimlessly across the perimeter. Golden State has had a bottom-10 offense for six weeks and even the poor opponent didn’t make them look improved. The Warriors made one area aim within the final 4 minutes of the primary quarter and scored seven factors within the first 5 minutes of the second interval.
When Curry returned, the Warriors went on a 14-2 run. As normal, every part modifications when he’s on the court docket. With two minutes left within the half, he pulled up from the sting of the Raptors emblem.
The Warriors’ starters gained some separation to start the second half, with Wiggins dropping Scottie Barnes on a crossover and sticking a 3 to make it 65-59. Golden State’s small starting-five was in all probability its most efficient unit of the evening.
Curry saved fueling the Warriors’ offense, making goggle eyes after discovering Kevon Looney for a layup with a left-handed dime.
Lindy Waters III buried back-to-back 3s within the fourth, however the Raptors stayed inside putting distance as Boucher punched in a vicious dunk and splashed a 3.
Curry checked in proper after Wiggins bailed out a gross possession with a miracle 3, with 4:40 left in a tied recreation.
The 2-time MVP handed Allen Iverson on the all-time scoring listing with a deep 3 earlier than releasing Kyle Anderson for foul photographs with a back-screen.
However Boucher, who scored 17 fourth-quarter factors, rainbowed in a 3 to knot the rating with 2:50.
Anderson hit the three that Toronto left him open for, however a Boucher layup saved the Raptors inside one. An Ochai Agbaji layup over Curry gave Toronto a 102-101 lead with 1:33 remaining.
Curry has been some of the clutch gamers within the league this yr and all through his profession, however misfired on a tricky 3. Toronto tracked down the lengthy rebound and leaked out for the simplest basket of the sport — and what ended up being the game-winner.
The Scotiabank Enviornment crowd erupted as Hield’s contested 3 hit solely the underside of the web, and the Warriors’ season presumably hitting a brand new backside with it.
“It’s on everybody,” Wiggins stated postgame. “From the first person to the last person. Everyone can help out. Everyone can step up. The only way we’re going to get over this thing and change the outlook is if everybody, from the first person to the last person, gives a little more.”
Initially Printed: January 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM PST
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