NBA 2018-19: 3 talking points from Toronto Raptors' stunning win over Golden State Warriors

Toronto Raptors v Golden State Warriors
Toronto Raptors v Golden State Warriors

Final Score: Raptors defeat Warriors 113-93

The Golden State Warriors were on a four-game winning streak and hosted the Toronto Raptors, who were on a second night of a back-to-back after the win against the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles.

It is worth mentioning too that the Raptors were in this game without the MVP front runner, Kawhi Leonard, who was out due to a hip injury. But the Raptors dominated the Warriors for the entire 48 minutes of action and went on to pick up an easy win.

With the win, they have swept the regular-season series against the Warriors. The league-leading Raptors have now improved to 23-7 on the season.

Let us take a look at three of the biggest talking points from the Raptors' win at the Oracle Arena.


#3 All the Raptors' starters score in double-digits

Raptors' starters fired on all cylinders
Raptors' starters fired on all cylinders

For a long time, the Toronto Raptors were known only for their two All-Star players, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. However, that doesn't look like the case this season; even though Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry are the mainstays, the other players are coming up big with consistent performances almost every night.

Serge Ibaka is having his career-best season, and the story is similar for Pascal Siakam who is putting up big numbers. Fred Van Vleet has also been a revelation this season, and he has been particularly impressive in the absence of Leonard.

Last night the starters combined for as many as 81 points, and all of them scored in double-digits. Moreover, they were all efficient with their shooting; none of the starters shot less than 40 percent from the field.

Ibaka had 20 points in the contest, and this was his third straight game with 20 or more points.

#2 Warriors' struggles from three-point land

The Warriors' three-point shooting did not come to the rescue
The Warriors' three-point shooting did not come to the rescue

Stats: 6-for-26 from long range (23.1%)

The Golden State Warriors had a tough time shooting against the Toronto Raptors as the league's best three-point shooting team combined for just 23.1% from distance. While the two-time MVP shot 2-for-8 (25%) from behind the arc, the other splash brother went ice cold, finishing with 0-for-5 from long range.

Just like any other NBA team, the Warriors shoot better at home, and the Raptors did a great job of not letting them get any open looks, contesting each and every attempt. But this can be considered a one-off night, as the Warriors have been shooting this season at the same rate they have been doing for the last few years.

Draymond Green couldn't make a splash either, going for 0-for-3, and the bench combined for 2-for-6 from downtown.

#1 Kyle Lowry's sensational performance

Kyle Lowry is back to his usual form. Credit:SI
Kyle Lowry is back to his usual form. Credit:SI

Stat line: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists and 3 steals on 50.0% shooting

After a rough four-game stretch where Kyle Lowry could not score in double digits, it looked like he was back to form as he scored 21 points in a blowout win against the Los Angeles Clippers. And after last night's performance against the Warriors, it is safe to conclude that he is indeed back to his usual form.

Lowry started the game hot, scoring 9 points to help the Raptors jump to a 31-22 first quarter lead. In the second quarter, at the 2:30 mark, he made a three-pointer from 28 feet to extend the Raptors' lead to as many as 16 points. They never looked back from there.

Lowry finished the game with 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting from the field. He also had 5 rebounds to go along with 12 assists, to register a crucial double-double on the road in the absence of All-Star Kawhi Leonard.

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Edited by Musab Abid