Powell punches big as Toronto tame Warriors
Powell punches big as Toronto tame Warriors Norm Powell garnered a careerhigh 37 points as reigning NBA champions Toronto Raptors eased past the Golden State Warriors 121-113.
Los Angeles, March 6: Norm Powell scored a career-high 37 points as the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors spoiled the return of Stephen Curry with a 121113 win over Golden State on Thursday that clinched them a playoff spot for the seventh straight season.
After missing four months with a broken hand, Curry was back in the Warriors’ lineup as they faced Toronto for the first time since the NBA finals.
“We knew Steph would be back so it would be a great night and a great atmosphere,” said Raptors star Kyle Lowry.
After a slow start, Curry finished with 23 points for the injury-hit Warriors, who have won just 14 games this season and have the worst record in the league.
“I felt great. It was a cool moment with the excitement in the building. Toronto is a championship team so they got a lot of chemistry,” said Curry, who missed 58 games.
This season they are also without Klay Thompson, who blew out his knee during a 30-point performance in the playoff-ending game six against Toronto.
The Warriors now have won two of their past four games after an eight-game losing skid. They have lost 10 consecutive home
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games and it remains to be seen if Curry can rescue them from their dismal season.
Pascal Siakam nailed a clutch basket while being fouled with 45 seconds left to give Toronto a fourpoint lead.
Golden State’s Damion Lee scored 23 points he also missed two free throws and a wide open three pointer which ended any hope of the Warriors coming back in the final minute.
Lowry’s double-double consisted of 26 points and a game-high 10 assists, while Serge Ibaka chipped in with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Siakam finished with 17 points.
Curry shot six-for-16 overall and three-for-12 on three-pointers in the loss.
Elsewhere, reigning playoff MVP Kawhi Leonard scored a team high 25 points as the Los Angeles Clippers won their sixth straight game with a 120-105 rout of the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell finished with double doubles for the Clippers in a battle between the two Western Conference powerhouses.
They have played each other four times this season with both teams winning twice. But the Clippers would have the edge if they tie in the standings because they have a better record against the teams in their conference.
The Rockets trailed by as many as 30 points and led only once at 4-2. Leonard also had six rebounds and five assists and Zubac finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Harrell tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds for the visiting Clippers at the Toyota Centre arena. — AFP