The Warriors and Raptors battled at Oracle Arena today. Two of the NBA’s best came into this game looking to get another win, but this time against a quality opponent. This was be a great measuring stick for both franchises, but only one could come out victorious.
In case you missed the game, here’s our instant recap:
1st Quarter
The Warriors got off to a hot start with back to back three pointers and got off to an early lead. The Raptors were able to score easily in the paint. With no Bogut in the middle, Jonas Valanciunas was effective early on. Both teams were making buckets and the Warriors maintained a small lead. Draymond Green hit his first three shots and he had 8 points early on. Marreese Speights was also finding the bucket, he had 10 points on 5 of 6 shooting. The Warriors were really clicking on offense and they went on a run to end the first quarter. They shot 70 percent in the opening quarter and Green and Speights combined for 20 points. The Warriors took a 40-31 lead to the second.
Speights with the nice move! https://t.co/W3vCfyRun4 @warriorsworld
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) January 3, 2015
2nd Quarter
The second unit struggled to start the second quarter and the Raptors quickly took advantage. Both teams have good depth, so a lead is never safe. It took a while for the Warriors to get going, but they finally did after about four minutes. The Warriors went on an 8-2 run and they grew their lead to 14. The Warriors had everything going for them, but the Raptors kept the score close enough to remain in striking distance. The Warriors started to turn the ball over and the Raptors went on a 14-2 run and the lead was down to 2. Greivis Vasquez had 16 points and he fueled the comeback. Toronto took the lead after yet another turnover and now we had a game. It took about three minutes for the Raptors to erase the 14 point deficit. Curry and Green were clutch down the stretch and they helped the Warriors recapture the lead with a 9-2 run. The Warriors took a 66-61 lead into the break.
Curry with the beautiful pass! https://t.co/QaXsV48nzN @warriorsworld — Alex Torres (@alextorresww) January 3, 2015
3rd Quarter
The Warriors came out to play defense in the second half. They scored nine points in the first two minutes and a half and the Raptors couldn’t buy a bucket. They only scored two points in the first five minutes and the Dubs pounced on them. The Warriors scored 21 points in the first six minutes of the quarter and their lead ballooned to 21. The Raptors then went on a 9-4 run and they kept fighting back. Steph Curry then made the crowd explode with a posterizing dunk. A few buckets from the Raptors cut the Warriors lead to 13 and once again this was a game. The Warriors finished the game with four points from Justin Holiday They lead 97-84 in the third quarter.
Wow Curry! Just WOW!!! https://t.co/1qCOAtSgd2 @warriorsworld
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) January 3, 2015
4th Quarter
Justin Holiday kept it going in the fourth quarter and extend the Warrior lead to 15. The Warriors had the advantage, but the Raptors kept responding, but they were running out of time. Marreese Speights then decided to take over the game, he scored six points in two minutes and the lead was now 13. It quickly turned into the Curry and Speights show. First Speights, then Curry. He hit back-to-back three pointers and that was the dagger. The Raptors could not keep up with this offense, or slow them down. Draymond Green had a triple double and the Warriors won 126-105.
