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Red-hot Raptors face Warriors on Wednesday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 12/28/2016  at  10:19:00 AM
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TORONTO RAPTORS (22-8)

at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (27-5)

Tip-off: Wednesday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -10.0, Total: 226.0

The Raptors will be going for their fifth straight win when they take on the Warriors in Golden State on Wednesday.

Toronto is one of the hottest teams in the league, as the team has won four straight games and 14 of its past 16. The Raptors are impressive on both ends of the floor, averaging 111.4 PPG (3rd in NBA) and allowing just 102.4 (9th in NBA). They’ll need to bring some of that balance in order to beat an elite Golden State team on the road on Wednesday. They happen to be facing the Warriors at the worst possible time also. Golden State is coming off of a 109-108 loss as a 3.5-point road favorite in Cleveland on Christmas Day, and this team is not planning on losing two games in a row. Look for the Warriors to come out with a ton of energy. They’ll be feeling confident coming into this game as well, as the Warriors have not lost to the Raptors at home since 2004. One thing that does favor Toronto is the fact that the team is 8-0 ATS as a road underdog this season. The Raptors are, however, just 4-14 ATS in road games when playing four or fewer games in 10 days over the past three seasons. They’re also up against a Warriors team that is 33-17 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points in that span. SF Terrence Ross (Wrist) is questionable for Toronto in this game, and Golden State is not currently dealing with any significant injuries.

The Raptors are one of the most underrated teams in the league this season, as they have been an absolute force on both ends of the floor. Toronto is currently running the most efficient offense in basketball, as they are putting up a ridiculous 116.7 points per 100 possessions (1st in NBA). They are the only team that is ahead of the Warriors in that regard. The reason this team is so good offensively is because of the backcourt of PG Kyle Lowry (21.9 PPG, 7.2 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG) and SG DeMar DeRozan (27.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.3 SPG). This is the only backcourt in basketball that belongs in the same conversation as the “splash brothers”, and Lowry and DeRozan will need to be ready to play on Wednesday. If they do not outplay Curry and Thompson then the Raptors have pretty much no chance of winning this tough road game. C Jonas Valanciunas (12.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG) might, however, be the difference maker in this game. The Warriors don’t have a lot of weaknesses, but they do not have a ton of talent at the center position. That means that Toronto might look to Valanciunas often, as he is by far the most talented player at his size in this game.

If there’s one guy on this Golden State team that’ll be dying to get on the court on Wednesday then that is PG Stephen Curry (24.1 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 SPG). Curry was miserable in the loss to Cleveland on Christmas Day, scoring just 15 points on 4-for-11 shooting from the field and 2-for-7 shooting from three. He’ll badly want to wash the bad taste of that game out of his mouth and things should be a lot easier against Toronto on Wednesday. SF Kevin Durant (26.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.2 SPG) will also be looking to get rid of some demons in this one. Durant turned the ball over on the final play of the game on Sunday, and he actually disappeared down the stretch overall. Some calls certainly didn’t go his way, but he will still be fired up to get back on track on Wednesday. Expect Durant to have a huge game, as he has really had very little trouble scoring all season long. The x-factor for Golden State will, however, be PF Draymond Green (10.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.3 BPG). If Green can play well and hold his own against Valanciunas inside then the Raptors will be forced to try to go small. No team does that as well as Golden State, so that would play right into what Steve Kerr wants for his team.


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