One night after the Cavaliers blew a 22-point lead, it looked like the best team in basketball was going to have a collapse of their own. The Warriors led Toronto by 27 points at halftime and had the game all but locked up.
Thanks to a big comeback by the Raptors, though, this one was much closer than Golden State would have liked. However, the Warriors showed why they have won two of the last three NBA titles as they held on for a 127-125 victory.
"Definitely a wild night, we came out that third quarter and we started fouling a lot and they went to the free-throw line probably 10 possessions in a row," Draymond Green told NBA TV after the game. "That slowed our pace down and when you're playing against a set defense every time no one is as good as when you can get out in transition and get a couple of easy baskets and then get the flow going."
“The one thing that we know is that it’s a process.”@Money23Green joins #GameTime after the @warriors hold on to defeat the @Raptors. pic.twitter.com/6T3avxM67k
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 14, 2018
DeMar DeRozan did all he could to lead a comeback for Toronto with 42 points, five rebounds and three assists while going 8 for 10 from the free-throw line, but 20-point games from Kevin Durant (25), Steph Curry (24) and Klay Thompson (26) were just enough to hold off the Raptors.
Golden State has now won seven of their last eight games. The Raptors have dropped two of three.
“The one thing that we know is it’s a process," Green said. "You don't win the championship in June, you win the championship from September to May, June, and then you've got to enjoy the process, embrace it and try to get better every time we step on the floor."
Studs of the Night
John Wall didn't have the best shooting night going 9-of-24 from the floor in the Wizards' 119-113 win over the Nets, but he added 16 assists to help lead his team to victory.
Lakers forward Julius Randle had a game-high 23 points and registered a double-double with 15 rebounds in Los Angeles' 107-101 win over the Mavericks in overtime.
Russell Westbrook did what he does best, nearly registering a triple double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists all while shooting less-than-stellar from the floor as he went 10-of-27 from the field in the Thunder's 101-91 over the Hornets.
Duds of the Night
Pistons guard Tobias Harris went 3-of-14 from the floor and 0 for 6 from three-point range in Detroit's 107-105 loss to the Bulls.
Hornets guard Kemba Walker didn't have a bad night with 19 points, but going 5-of-17 shooting, including 2 for 7 from beyond the arc, with five turnovers isn't great either.
Highlight
Kelly Oubre made a nice cut down the baseline, and with a little help from Wall he finished strong at the basket.
Kelly Oubre Jr. slashes and slams!#DCFamily pic.twitter.com/Dcs0BTnzDC
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2018
What's Next
Portland (22-20) at Minnesota (28-16), 9 p.m. ET — The Timberwolves are quietly one of the hottest teams in the NBA as they have gone 11-3 in their last 14 games. They are 28-16 after starting the season off a pretty mediocre 17-13. Karl-Anthony Towns has posted double-doubles in eight straight games and in 12 of his last 13. C.J. McCollum is averaging 21.6 points per game on the season and nearly 25 points per game in Damian Lillard's four-game absence.