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Golden State Warriors Rout Toronto Raptors
Poole, Wiggins lethal combo lead to victory.
Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) reacts after shooting a 3-point basket against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2021.11.21 – The lethal combo performance of Jordan Poole with 33 points, Andrew Wiggins 32 points seven rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors rout the Toronto Raptors 119-104 on Sunday night.
Stephen Curry played himself as a supporting cast taking pressure off the reigning scoring champion.
Poole shot 10 for 13 with eight 3-pointers and became the first Warriors player aside from Curry with consecutive 30-point outings since D’Angelo Russell did so in three in a row from Dec. 27, 2019-Jan. 12, 2020.
Curry scored just 12 points but had eight assists after sitting out a 105-102 win at Detroit on Friday night to rest his sore hip on the second night of a back-to-back. Curry began 1 for 7 and finished 2 of 10 from the floor.
“The scoring balance means that teams can’t throw everything at Steph,” coach Steve Kerr said. “That’s what was happening last year. Teams were throwing everything they had at Steph.”
2021.11.21 – Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors – (NBA Video highlights)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, is defended by Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2021.11.21 – Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors – (NBA Video highlights)
2021.11.21 – Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors – (NBA Video highlights)
Wiggins made six 3s, knocking down his first five shots for 14 early points. Golden State started 9 for 14 to build a 27-9 lead late in the opening quarter. The Warriors (15-2) never trailed in winning their fourth straight and 11th in 12.
“We all know what Wiggs is capable of,” Poole said.
After missing Friday with a sore hip, Curry returned to the starting lineup, along with Draymond Green, but largely stepped aside and let Wiggins and Poole go to work.
After the two combined for 59 points Friday in Detroit, they were even more efficient en route to 65 total Sunday.
Poole led all scorers and set a season-high for a second straight game, including 8-of-11 from beyond the arc, while Wiggins was aggressive as ever with 12 buckets on 20 attempts from the field and 6-of-8 from deep. Poole’s 33 points secured his first consecutive 30-point performances of his career.
Curry contributed only 12 in the scoring column but tied with Green for a team-high eight assists. The majority of his points came at the foul line, while he wallowed in an off-night shooting the ball.
Whether they’re on the court or not, the Warriors are proving they don’t need to rely on Curry and Green to win games this season. Golden State went 2-7 in games Curry didn’t play last season and was 3-7 when he played but scored 20 or fewer.
Thanks to Curry’s red hot start to the season, Golden State hasn’t had many opportunities to show what it can do without him.
2021.11.21 – Poole and Wiggins with open shots (Post Game Video)
Golden State Warriors guard Andrew Wiggins (2) shooting a 3-point basket against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2021.11.21 – Poole and Wiggins with open shots (Post Game Video)
2021.11.21 – Poole and Wiggins with open shots (Post Game Video)
Pascal Siakam scored 21 points and Fred VanVleet had 17 points and seven assists for the Raptors.
VanVleet’s back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth pulled Toronto within 103-93 before Golden State called a timeout with 7:16 to play. The Warriors then stayed safely ahead the rest of the way.
“It’s great to have everybody on the roster contributing and understanding that every night’s going to be different and they just have to stay ready,” Kerr said.
The Raptors had won four of the previous five meetings with the Warriors.
2021.11.21 – Kerr’s Warriors suffocating defense (Post Game Video)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) defends against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2021.11.21 – Kerr’s Warriors suffocating defense (Post Game Video)
TIP-INS
Raptors: VanVleet was 3 for 12 from deep and the Raptors 15 of 37 from 3-point range. … F Scottie Barnes grabbed 13 rebounds but shot 3 for 11. … Toronto has dropped 15 of the last 17 on Golden State’s home floor. The Raptors are 6-4 on the road but 1-3 against the Western Conference.
Warriors: Two-way G Chris Chiozza scored 11 points over 29 minutes off the bench. His teammates gave him a standing ovation. … G Andre Iguodala sat out a third straight game nursing a tender right knee while Gary Payton II was out as he continues to recover from surgery on his right hernia. … Otto Porter Jr. returned from sitting out a game protecting a foot injury and scored 15 points off the bench to go with five rebounds. “Everybody is buying in to what we’re trying to do,” Porter said. … Golden State has scored 100 or more points in every game — the only NBA team to do so.
ESPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA
The Warriors and Riot Games announced Sunday that Chase Center will be host to the 2022 League of Legends World Championship Finals premier esports event — and Toronto will serve as a semifinal host city.
Kerr sported a League of Legends shirt during his pregame media session.
UP NEXT
Raptors: At Memphis on Wednesday night continuing a six-game road trip.
Warriors: Host the 76ers on Wednesday night.
Related – See : Warriors drub Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center
Related – See below: 2018 Warriors NBA Finals (video)
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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2018 Warriors NBA Finals video highlights