Who's Playing
Matchup: Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors
Records: Raptors (43-18), Warriors (14-48)
Where to Watch
Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV: TSN (Canada) and TNT (USA)
Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Game Preview
The Toronto Raptors are back in The Bay to take on the Golden State Warriors for the first time since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.
Much has changed over the 266 days since.
The Raptors have sustained their success but have done so in a much different way, as first-time All-Star Pascal Siakam has stepped up to be the team's leading scorer and franchise cornerstone. The Warriors, on the other hand, are owners of the league's worst record in a transitional year marred by injuries, namely to the backcourt duo of Klay Thompson (sustained on June 13, 2019) and Stephen Curry (sustained on Oct. 30, 2019).
On Thursday, Curry is set to return to action after missing the last 58 games.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who has missed the last 58 games with a fractured left hand suffered on October 30 vs. Phoenix, will return to the lineup tomorrow night against the Toronto Raptors.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) March 5, 2020
Needless to say, the two-time league MVP adds another dynamic to a Warriors team that is coming off of an impressive road victory over the Denver Nuggets. In that game, it was trade deadline acquisition Andrew Wiggins that led the way with 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds while second-round pick Eric Paschall scored 22 points of his own. They were just two of six Warriors to score 14 or more points in the win.
MORE: Raptors can clinch playoffs spot with win over Warriors
In nine games with Golden State, Wiggins is averaging 20.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
While Thompson remains out and Draymond Green is listed as questionable, Golden State will get its first glimpse at the pairing of Curry and Wiggins, a duo that will look to develop chemistry to help lead this team back towards the top of the Western Conference next season.
As for the defending champs, a win tonight would secure their seventh-consecutive playoff berth.
Toronto maintains a one-game lead over Boston for the East's No. 2 seed after snapping a three-game skid with Tuesday's win over the Phoenix Suns. The Raptors, who have also dealt with a myriad of injuries this season, got back on track thanks to big offensive performances from Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell plus a career night from Chris Boucher.
Ahead of Thursday, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet were each listed as Questionable but it is unclear if any of them will make their return against the Warriors.
The Raptors are 36-4 against teams with records below-.500 this season and will look to continue this trend against the Warriors, spoiling the return of their two-time MVP.
Injury Report
As of 8:30 p.m. on 3/4
Raptors
- Marc Gasol (Hamstring) – Questionable
- Dewan Hernandez (Ankle) – Out
- Serge Ibaka (Knee) – Questionable
- Fred VanVleet (Shoulder) – Questionable
Warriors
- Ky Bowman (Ankle) – Out
- Draymond Green (Knee) – Questionable
- Kevon Looney (Hip) – Out
- Alen Smailagic (Quadriceps) – Out
- Klay Thompson (Knee) – Out
Game Notes
- Golden State has lost nine straight games at the Chase Center. Its last home win came on Jan. 18.
- Warriors guard Mychal Mulder (Windsor, ON) and forward Andrew Wiggins (Vaughan/Toronto, ON) both hail from Canada.
- Raptors guard Norman Powell and Warriors big man Kevon Looney were teammates at UCLA.
- Toronto has won two straight regular-season games against Golden State after losing eight in a row.
- It's the first of two meetings between Toronto and Golden State this month. They meet again on Sunday, March 16 at Scotiabank Arena.
Last Time They Played
Date: June 13, 2019 (Game 6 NBA Finals)
Score: 🏆Raptors 114, Warriors 110
Raptors: Kyle Lowry – 26 PTS, 10 AST, 7 REB
Warriors: Klay Thompson – 30 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.