The project that is the 2016-17 Warriors continued to progress Wednesday in Toronto, where Golden State cruised past the Raptors 127-121.
Steph Curry scored 35 points, Kevin Durant scored 30 and Draymond Green led a defensive resurgence in the second quarter that turned this game into a blowout.
It was the fifth-straight game the Warriors had at least 30 assists and shot 50 percent from the field. It’s the first time a team has done that since the 1990 Chicago Bulls. That’s the winning formula on offense Steve Kerr wants and it marked the team’s fifth straight victory.
After allowing 38 points in the first quarter, the Warriors held the Raptors to 5/24 shooting in the second and took a commanding 13-point lead at the half. Green upped the intensity on the glass, blocked shots, got his hands into passing lanes and turned the game into an up-tempo affair. The Raptors couldn’t hang.
Curry attacked as much as he has all season, going 12/13 from the the free throw line — the Warriors went 26/28 total from the charity stripe in a whistle-happy game from the refs. He also handed out 7 assists and continues to feel comfortable starring alongside Durant.
KD hit a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first quarter and was a thorn in Toronto’s side all night. Durant scored several times in transition and has been benefitting from an array of open looks he’s now getting as a member of the Warriors. It was the first time both Curry and Durant scored 30 together in the same game all season.
Klay Thompson invited himself to the party in the third quarter, scoring all of his 11 of his 15 points in the quarter. But his shot selection continues to be shaky and he finished with a 4/15 shooting clip from the floor. Andre Iguodala is getting into better basketball shape and Wednesday was arguably his best game of the season — 10 points, 6 assists, +15 in 25 minutes. Patrick McCaw provided a much needed spark off the bench early in the fourth quarter, finishing with 5 points and 1 block.
A 19-point lead got trimmed to five points late in the third quarter and got within six points with under a minute left. DeMar DeRozan continued his tear, scoring 34 points on 17/17 from the free throw line.
But don’t let the score fool you: Golden State controlled Wednesday.
They’ll be tested again on Friday against the Boston Celtics, a team who also vied heavily for the services of Durant.