Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) gets some hang time after slam dunking on the Golden State Warriors on Fri Apr 2, 2021 in Tampa Bay (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Warriors faced the Toronto Raptors in Tampa Friday night. The Warriors were hoping to rebound from a loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday. The team knew it would be a very tough task as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were sitting out the game. Curry was in a lot of distress due to his back injury in the game against the Houston Rockets. Green sat out due to sprained finger.

Nonetheless, the Warriors felt they had a chance to beat the Raptors. Toronto has been struggling this season and entered the game with a record of 18-30. It turned out to be a night to forget for the Warrior players, coaching staff, and fans as Toronto drubbed the Warriors 130-77. 

The Warriors played well in the first quarter. The teams were evenly matched. Andrew Wiggins carried the load for the Warriors. Toronto’s Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent, Jr. led their team’s offense. The first quarter ended with Toronto holding a slim one-point advantage 27-26.

The Raptors, not known for defense and 30th in the NBA in rebounding, shut down the Warriors on both ends of the court in the second and third quarters. In the second quarter, Toronto went on a 20-1 run to lead 47-30. After Kelly Oubre made a three to start the quarter, the Warriors failed to make a field goal in the next six minutes and 30 seconds.

Toronto won the quarter 35-16 to lead 62-42 at the half. Toronto’s Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent paced the Raptors with 40 points in the first half. The Warriors, as a team, scored 40. Wiggins was the only Warrior that was able to put points on the board. He had 15 to lead the Warriors.

The nightmare continued in the third quarter. Toronto had its foot on the accelerator as they hammered the Warriors 46-14 to finish the third quarter leading by 53 points 108-53.

The Warriors had no flow to the offense. With Curry and Green in the lineup, the Warriors move the ball well. Without them, they floundered. They could not get anything going on offense. Their defense was non-existent without Draymond. The way the game was going, head coach Steve Kerr had to wonder if there was a Mercy rule.

There was no hope for a win. They still had to play the final 12 minutes of the game. Kerr sent in his reserves, and they lost the fourth quarter 22-21. Toronto sends Golden State down to one of the worst losses in team history, 130-77.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, the Warriors are 23-26 for the year. Toronto is 19-30

Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with 15. The Raptors were able to double-team him in the second half and kept him from scoring. Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole each had. No other Warrior was in double figures. James Wiseman, Kelly Oubre, Jr., and Eric Paschall each had nine.

The Warriors shot 33% from the floor and were 11-for 32 from 3-point range. The Raptors mentioned earlier as not being very good on defense put up numbers that made them look like one of the NBA’s best defensive units. They had 14 steals, eight blocked shots, and forced 21 Warrior turnovers that led to 30 Toronto points. The Raptors, 30th in rebounding in the NBA, outrebounded the Warriors, 29th in that department, 57-45.

Pascal Siakam, celebrating his 27th birthday, led the Raptors with a season-high 36 points. He was 14-for-24 from the floor, and he connected on four threes. Gary Trent knocked down six threes to finish with 24 for the night. Og Anunoby had 21, Malachi Flynn 16, and Chris Boucher 10. 

The Warriors finish the three-game road trip in Atlanta on Sunday. The game will start at 4:30 pm