Golden State Warriors produce a 84 point blitz in the first half to knock down the Toronto Raptors.
On Friday night at the Oracle Arena, the Golden State Warriors shrugged off a six game losing streak in style as they routed the lowly Toronto Raptors 138-100.
Warriors, who entered the night on the back of a six game tail-spin, roared into the game with fury and scorched the Raps with 84 points in the first 24 minutes of play, sending them to their third
straight road loss. This is also the highest points scored in the first quarter by any team this season. Prior to this, the Denver Nuggets had posted 80 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the game on January 15th.
The Warriors shot 68 percent from the field in the first half, went at a rate of 77 percent from downtown, outrebounded Toronto 20-12 and had 20 assists.
The Raptors have now surrendered 17 of their last 18 road games.
The Warriors coach Keith Smart was pumped up after the downright dominant performance by his team.
"I wanted to send a message to our team that we are building," He said. "This is a process. The way we have always done it at this time of year, to sit back and not play, you've got your better players
on your team who want to play and will play, and that's a good thing."
The Warriors were led by their sharp-shooting sensation, Monta Ellis. Ellis re-discovered his shooting against the Raps and posted a conversion rate of 9-of-17 from the field, 3-of-5 from the long
range and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Ellis, not only finished with a team high 27 points, but also pulled 10 assists, four steals and four rebounds.
Small forward Dorell Wright complemented Ellis all the way and erupted with 26 points along with four rebounds. Stephen Curry scored 23 points along with eight assists and center David Lee added 21
points and gathered seven rebounds.
The Warriors were in their groove right from the tip-off. The Raps took a 7-4 lead in the first two minutes of play. Their initial burst however woke up a sleeping giant that had been frustrated for
the past six games. In the ensuing minutes, the Warriors offense unleashed an assault so furious, that had been unseen this season. The Warriors charge completely dismantled the Raps like a pack of dominoes. The Warriors scored 45 points in the first quarter,
increased their lead to 26 by halftime and then led by as many as 47 deep in the fourth quarter.
The Raps were never competitive throughout the game. They left far too many gaps in the defense, failed to set up screens and allowed a bevy of unchallenged shots to the Warriors. On the offensive
end DeMar DeRozan Leandro Barbosa led with 19 points apiece while Ed Davis had 18 points. The defeat now completely puts the Toronto team out of the play-off picture.
The Raptors not only suffered from a demoralizing defeat, but they also lost the services of their veteran swingman Jose Calderon for their upcoming game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Calderon
suffered a left hamstring deep into the first half and did not return for the game.
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