Sports Mole previews Friday’s NBA clash between Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors, including predictions, team news and form guides.
The Golden State Warriors will be keen to draw the curtain on their seven-game homestretch with a win when the Toronto Raptors come visiting the Chase Center on Friday.
The Raptors, meanwhile, head to San Francisco aiming to reignite their pursuit of a play-in berth, having been beaten in each of their most recent two outings.
Match preview
© Imago
Faced with the prospect of suffering consecutive defeats for the first time in 18 matches, the Golden State Warriors showed great mettle to claim a 104-93 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
A 14-point lead at half time had Steve Kerr‘s men cruising and on course for a routine victory, but after that advantage was cut to two by the end of the third quarter, they rallied in the final 12 minutes to nip any chance of a fightback in the bud.
With Steph Curry unavailable due to rest, Jimmy Butler came to the fore for the Warriors, notching a game-high 24 points to go along with eight rebounds and 10 assists, finishing just two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
Recording their 40th victory from 69 matches last time out, the Warriors continue to hold on to sixth spot in the Western Conference as they look to fend off the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers in the race for the final automatic playoff spot.
Arguably the league’s most in-form side over the last 10 matches, Friday’s hosts now go in search of a 10th win in 11 matches either side of the All-Star break before kicking off a six-game road trip with a clash against the Atlanta Hawks.
© Imago
After going 6-2 from their opening eight matches in March, the Toronto Raptors were beginning to gather some steam heading into the final knockings of the regular season but will now have to pick themselves up again following a second straight defeat against the Phoenix Suns last time out.
For the fourth game running, Darko Rajakovic‘s men ended the first quarter ahead before being outscored 105-60 over the subsequent 36 minutes of action to fall to a humiliating 129-89 defeat at the Footprint Centre.
Plagued by injuries to several of their attacking cornerstones, the 2019 champions had nobody into 20 points, with Scottie Barnes (16) and Immanuel Quickley (15) leading the way for a shorthanded Raptors outfit.
Five wins off the Miami Heat in 10th place in the Eastern Conference and having played a game more, the Raptors will need to be near-perfect to stand any chance of giving themselves a shot at playoff contention.
Bottom but one in the league for both three-point shots attempted and three-point shots made per game, Friday’s visitors will need to up their output from beyond the arc as they prepare to potentially face off against the game’s greatest shooter.
Golden State Warriors NBA form:
Toronto Raptors NBA form:
Team News
© Imago
After being rested against the Milwaukee Bucks, 37-year-old Steph Curry is expected to return to the starting lineup for the Golden State Warriors in this one.
This should see Quinten Post drop back to the bench with Brandin Podziemski now having returned to action from a minor back issue which kept him out against the Denver Nuggets.
Jakob Poeltl was handed a breather in the Raptors’ defeat to the Suns, so he should be back in contention here, but Ja’Kobe Walter and Brandon Ingram are guaranteed absentees through hip and ankle injuries respectively.
Gradey Dick will be re-evaluated soon to determine his readiness to return to action from a knee injury, although Friday’s encounter is expected to come too soon for the Canadian.
Shooting guard Jared Rhoden is currently on duty with G-League outfit Raptors 905 and is consequently ruled out for the visitors’ trip to California.
Golden State Warriors possible starting five:
Curry, Moody; Podziemski, Butler; Green
Denver Nuggets possible starting five:
Quickley, Barnes; Barrett, Mogbo; Poeltl
We say: Warriors to win by 8+ points
Fresh off the back of taking down the Bucks without their best player, the Warriors are overwhelming favourites to get the job done here, and we are tipping them to live up to expectations when all is said and done.
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