Legends66NBA7
03-02-2014, 04:51 PM
Game Links: http://gofirstrow.eu/sport/basketball.html
Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20140302/GSWTOR/gameinfo.html?ls=slt
Stephen Curry seems to play at his best immediately after showcasing his worst.
The All-Star guard now has a good chance to maintain his hot hand against a team he's enjoyed great success against in his young career when the Golden State Warriors continue their six-game road trip against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Curry had one of his worst games of the season in a 103-83 loss at Chicago on Wednesday, finishing with a season low-tying five points on 2-of-10 shooting to go with five assists that were somewhat negated by his five turnovers.
It was only the third time this season he has failed to score in double digits, though Golden State (36-23) won the first two of those games. Curry, averaging 23.9 points, scored five at Minnesota on Nov. 6 and had nine at Orlando on New Year's Eve.
Curry followed his off night against the Magic by shooting 13 for 22, including 8 of 15 from 3-point range, and finishing with 36 points and 12 assists in a signature road win over Miami on Jan. 2.
On Friday night, it was the New York Knicks' turn to absorb a bounce-back effort from Curry, who posted his third triple-double of the season with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 126-103 rout at Madison Square Garden.
"We didn't play our best in Chicago," said Curry, who joined LeBron James as the only visiting players with a 50-point game and a triple-double at the current Garden. "It was a big opportunity to come out and correct that and we did that from the start. We withstood their mini runs. It was a good 48-minute performance."
Golden State improved to 2-1 on its road trip with the win.
"We played well defensively," guard Klay Thompson said. "I thought we got back to what we do well and it is huge going into playing a good Toronto team."
Curry will now look to stay hot against the Raptors (32-26), who have allowed 119.3 points per game in going 0-7 against the Warriors with the former Davidson star in the lineup. Curry has averaged 27.3 points on 53.7 percent shooting in those contests -- his best numbers against any NBA opponent.
Toronto's only win over Golden State since Curry was drafted was an 83-75 home win on March 4, 2012, that came while the guard was sidelined by a strained tendon in his foot.
He scored 27 points in a 112-103 win over the Raptors on Dec. 3 to help the Warriors rally from a 27-point deficit and outscore Toronto 42-15 in the fourth quarter.
The Raptors are coming off a marathon loss Thursday, falling 134-129 to Washington in three overtimes to snap a three-game win streak.
Toronto got banged up a bit with point guard Kyle Lowry and small forward Terrence Ross both suffering ankle injuries. Lowry remained in the game until fouling out in the final OT, while Ross left in the second quarter and did not return.
The status of both players is unknown ahead of this contest.
"We'll have to see for Sunday what they are going to do," coach Dwane Casey said. "But it's next man up. Somebody is going to have to step up and be ready to play."
Reserve point guard Greivis Vasquez could see extended minutes if Lowry is sidelined. Vasquez had a season-high 26 points and added eight assists against the Wizards.
DeMar DeRozan scored 34 for his third 30-point game in his last five. He had 26 points in the December loss to the Warriors.
Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20140302/GSWTOR/gameinfo.html?ls=slt
Stephen Curry seems to play at his best immediately after showcasing his worst.
The All-Star guard now has a good chance to maintain his hot hand against a team he's enjoyed great success against in his young career when the Golden State Warriors continue their six-game road trip against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Curry had one of his worst games of the season in a 103-83 loss at Chicago on Wednesday, finishing with a season low-tying five points on 2-of-10 shooting to go with five assists that were somewhat negated by his five turnovers.
It was only the third time this season he has failed to score in double digits, though Golden State (36-23) won the first two of those games. Curry, averaging 23.9 points, scored five at Minnesota on Nov. 6 and had nine at Orlando on New Year's Eve.
Curry followed his off night against the Magic by shooting 13 for 22, including 8 of 15 from 3-point range, and finishing with 36 points and 12 assists in a signature road win over Miami on Jan. 2.
On Friday night, it was the New York Knicks' turn to absorb a bounce-back effort from Curry, who posted his third triple-double of the season with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 126-103 rout at Madison Square Garden.
"We didn't play our best in Chicago," said Curry, who joined LeBron James as the only visiting players with a 50-point game and a triple-double at the current Garden. "It was a big opportunity to come out and correct that and we did that from the start. We withstood their mini runs. It was a good 48-minute performance."
Golden State improved to 2-1 on its road trip with the win.
"We played well defensively," guard Klay Thompson said. "I thought we got back to what we do well and it is huge going into playing a good Toronto team."
Curry will now look to stay hot against the Raptors (32-26), who have allowed 119.3 points per game in going 0-7 against the Warriors with the former Davidson star in the lineup. Curry has averaged 27.3 points on 53.7 percent shooting in those contests -- his best numbers against any NBA opponent.
Toronto's only win over Golden State since Curry was drafted was an 83-75 home win on March 4, 2012, that came while the guard was sidelined by a strained tendon in his foot.
He scored 27 points in a 112-103 win over the Raptors on Dec. 3 to help the Warriors rally from a 27-point deficit and outscore Toronto 42-15 in the fourth quarter.
The Raptors are coming off a marathon loss Thursday, falling 134-129 to Washington in three overtimes to snap a three-game win streak.
Toronto got banged up a bit with point guard Kyle Lowry and small forward Terrence Ross both suffering ankle injuries. Lowry remained in the game until fouling out in the final OT, while Ross left in the second quarter and did not return.
The status of both players is unknown ahead of this contest.
"We'll have to see for Sunday what they are going to do," coach Dwane Casey said. "But it's next man up. Somebody is going to have to step up and be ready to play."
Reserve point guard Greivis Vasquez could see extended minutes if Lowry is sidelined. Vasquez had a season-high 26 points and added eight assists against the Wizards.
DeMar DeRozan scored 34 for his third 30-point game in his last five. He had 26 points in the December loss to the Warriors.