Toronto Raptors drop fifth-straight game with loss to Golden State Warriors
The Toronto Raptors (1-6) lost their fifth-straight game on Monday 8 November when they fell to the Golden State Warriors (5-2) at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. For the Warriors, who
are unbeaten at home so far this season, it was their first road win of the year.
The Warriors got a season-high in points from their point guard Stephen Curry, who finished with 34 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Shooting guard Monta Ellis, leading
the league in scoring with 27.9 points per game, had 28 points while newly acquired power forward David Lee finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
The Raptors got some good production from their first-year Russian player Linas Kleiza, who scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jarrett Jack had 24 points and eight assists on
the night, both season-highs for the starting point guard, while Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems chipped in with 12 points apiece with Andrea Bargnani adding 11.
The Raptors did not shoot the ball well all night, making only 45.8 per cent of their field goal attempts while they allowed the Warriors to shoot 52.7 per cent from the field. Toronto
was badly beaten on the boards as well, losing the rebounding battle 42-32. The Raptors had outrebounded their opponents in their past five games.
The Warriors played with a lot of energy to open up the game, leading 26-19 after the first quarter. They used a 16-3 run in the second to increase their lead to 55-41 entering half-time.
Leandro Barbosa made his three lone buckets of the game in the third quarter, cutting the Warriors’ lead to 75-66 with 2:48 left in the third. But the Warriors still entered the final
frame up 12 points. Thanks to a quick 12-0 run by the home team, the Raptors clawed back to within four points midway through the fourth. But the dynamic duo of Ellis and Curry were too much to handle down the stretch, with Ellis converting on a three-point
play and Curry making two three-pointers to put the Raptors away.
What they said
Ellis had a nasty spill under the basket late in the fourth quarter. He remained on the floor for a few minutes before being helped to the locker room. Team officials said he will undergo
X-rays on his lower back.
"He was ready to pop up sooner," said Warriors coach Keith Smart. "I think it was more concern with the doctors that were there, our trainer that was there, to make sure when you have
something like that happen, don't do something too soon."
Lee said he is beginning to feel more comfortable with his new team.
"This is a huge confidence booster for me," he said. "I think I turned the corner offensively, being a little bit more comfortable with what we are doing. If it wasn't for foul trouble
I probably would have had a much better scoring game."
As for the Raptors, being mired in a five-game losing streak is never fun.
"We just make the game hard on ourselves," Kleiza said.
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