Raptors will have to be perfect to knock off undefeated Warriors
Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have played a substantial role in helping the Golden State Warriors extend a dominant run at home against the Toronto Raptors.
The defending champions could be missing at least one of them Tuesday night as they seek their best home start in 35 years and an 11th straight win at Oracle Arena over the Raptors.
The Warriors didn't look particularly good without Thompson on Saturday, falling behind by 17 to a one-win Brooklyn team before rallying for a 107-99 overtime home win.
Thompson has been bothered by a stiff back in recent weeks, but is expected to return as Golden State looks to open 7-0 at home for the first time since winning its first 10 in 1980-81.
"It's about us getting better in the regular season and playing at our highest level come playoff time and the wins will take care of themselves as long as we keep at our main focus," interim coach Luke Walton said.
Thompson totaled 45 points and hit 9 of 14 from 3-point range to help the Warriors win two meetings with Toronto by a combined 45 points last season. The All-Star guard also has averaged 21.3 points and shot 14 of 23 (60.9 percent) from beyond the arc in three career matchups at Oracle.
Golden State has scored 119.7 points per game while winning by an average of 14.7 during its run at home against the Raptors. Stephen Curry had 32 points and 12 assists, Marreese Speights scored 26 and Green added 16 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 126-105 win Jan. 2.
Green recorded his second career triple-double Saturday with 16 points, 12 assists and 10 boards, but he's questionable for this meeting because of a bout with the flu.
Andre Iguodala could start in the frontcourt after he had 15 points and hit a tying 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds remaining Saturday. Curry, who scored 34 but went 13 of 31 from the field, has averaged 28.6 points and 10.4 assists in five home games versus Toronto.
"We can't get caught up in the Steph Curry show or the atmosphere of how its going to be in the arena," Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan said. "We've got to go out there and play disciplined basketball on the defensive end and understand that they're going to make tough shots - that's what they do."
Toronto ranks in the top 10 with 97.1 points allowed per game, but allowed Sacramento to shoot 51.3 percent and 10 of 25 from 3-point range in a 107-101 loss Sunday that marked its fourth loss in six games after opening the season with five straight victories.
The Raptors will likely have a tough time bouncing back in the second of this five-game trip against a Golden State team averaging an NBA-best 114.1 points and 12.2 3s.
DeMar DeRozan finished with 24 points, Kyle Lowry scored 22 and went 6 for 12 from 3-point range, and DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph had 17 points apiece.
Toronto hit 15 of 31 attempts from beyond the arc, but committed 16 turnovers for the second straight game and was outscored 52-28 in the paint.
"To win in this league you've got to take care of the ball, make sure we get good attempts and get stops on the other end," coach Dwane Casey said.
