Possible NBA Finals preview? Warriors fall in OT to Raptors.
Red-hot Durant scores 51, but short-handed Warriors’ comeback foiled in OT
TORONTO » The Warriors did not offer an NBA Finals preview. Instead, they morphed early-game sluggishness into late-game intensity.
The Warriors lost in overtime, 131-128, to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, leaving the defending NBA champions with reasons to feel encouraged despite the short-term consequences.
The Warriors (15- 8) trailed by as many as 18 points. Just to keep the game competitive, Kevin Durant needed to score 51 points in his sixth career 50-point game, while shooting 18- of- 31 from the field, 4- of-7 from 3-point range and 11- of12 from the free-throw line. He also made a 38-foot 3-pointer to end the third quarter and drilled a corner 3-pointer to tie the game at 119 with 8.6 seconds left in regulation.
Once it ended, Durant became the fourth Warriors player along with Stephen Curry, Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain to post at least 40 points in three consecutive games.
“I just feel like I have to do what is required at this point,” Durant said. “There’s going to be some games we have a great team game going. We can beat teams with the flow of our offense and moving our bodies and the ball. Then there’s going to be games where I have to go get buckets. Tonight, we were down early and down big. I just tried to be aggressive and get a bucket.”
Durant presumably would not have needed to be as ag-
gressive with Curry in the lineup. Instead, Curry has missed the last 11 games with a strained left groin. He arguably could have prevented games from starting off lopsided toward needing overtime to determine the outcome. He probably would have relieved Durant’s workload while the Warriors went 5- 6 in his absence.
That could happen as soon as when the Warriors visit the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
“We managed it really well. Obviously, we’d love to win more games, but we got a lot of experience with this time,” Durant said. “But we definitely like going back to our roles and what we do best on this team. I think we learned a lot about ourselves individually.”
What did the Warriors learn against Toronto?
The Warriors had no answer on limiting All- Star forward Kawhi Leonard (37 points), Pascal Siakam (26), Serge Ibaka (20), Danny Green (13), Jonas Valanciuneas (12) and Kyle Lowry ( 10). The Raptors ( 19- 4) also scored 48 points in the paint. Although Draymond Green cannot cover all four positions at once, he presumably would bolster the Warriors’ defensive intensity and rotations once he returns from a right toe injury.
Green will not play on Saturday in Detroit, but Kerr said he will likely play toward the end of the Warriors’ five-game trip, which also includes stops in Atlanta ( Dec. 3), Cleveland ( Dec. 5) and Milwaukee (Dec. 7). Green has pleaded to Kerr in the past about returning early from injuries, but he has changed his sentiments since then.
“He’s been very patient this time,” Kerr said. “I think he understands where we are. It’s still November. There’s a long haul ahead.”
Kerr has remained just as patient with their other frontcourt players.
The Warriors have not found a dependable starting center.
Once again, Damian Jones labored with early foul trouble (two) in limited minutes (11). Jordan Bell (zero points, four rebounds) offered little, and Kevon Looney (five points, six rebounds, provided his normal energy and a layup that cut the Raptors’ lead to 114-112 with 1:40 left.
The Warriors presumably will have more stability at that center spot once DeMarcus Cousins returns later this season from a left Achilles tendon injury.
“We’re still interested in developing all three of our young guys,” Kerr said. “There could be some matchup moves at some point. But we’re committed to playing everybody.”
That is because the Warriors are not consumed with bottom- line results in November. They worry about those in April, May and June.
So after lamenting his team’s turnovers (15) and 18-point deficit, Kerr praised his players for “playing hard, competing and flying around.”
Was this a good loss that may have proved the War- riors will be just fine once Curry, Green and Cousins return?
“If I say that, everybody will say that the Warriors aren’t into moral victories,” Kerr said. “So I wont give you the privilege of being able to write something like that. All I know is we judge our guys one effort and how hard we played together. We did that tonight, but there are no moral victories for the Golden State Warriors.”
• As soon as Durant walked toward the entrance tunnel at halftime, hip-hop artist and Raptors fan Drake approached Durant with a request.
“He just asked for my jersey,” Durant said.
Durant granted his wish after the game, but the Warriors’ star still fit in some digs. Drake looked incredulous after Durant made a 38-foot 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter.
“He talks a lot of trash over there on that sideline,” Durant said. “Anytime I can throw it back in his face, that’s definitely a win for me.”