Slam Dunk Central

 Despite the Toronto Raptors’ decidedly larger lineup - since when does Golden State ever utilize a large lineup? - the Warriors exploited some of that size, shooting 56% from the floor and playing their usual high-octane game successfully.  On Tuesday night, Baron Davis and Monta Ellis combined for 56 points in leading Golden State to a 117 -106 victory over Toronto at Oracle Arena.

Toronto once again was without their star player Chris Bosh, still out with a sore knee; the Warriors raced to a 37-17 lead on a dunk by Mickael Pietrus to open the second quarter, but the Raptors managed to stay close, thanks to Anthony Parker.  The Warriors missed 12 of 13 3-pointers - a rare occurrence - before Stephen Jackson made consecutive treys in the third quarter; Toronto tied the game midway through the fourth quarter with a 15-5 run, then took the lead on T.J. Ford’s layup with 6:40 left in the game.

Davis would then spark the key Warriors’ rally, putting them up 101-96  with a jumper and 2 assists in the next 90 seconds; he scored Golden State’s final 7 points as they managed to stymie Ford as he had the ball on almost every Raptor possession  in the final 6 minutes.  As a result, Golden State wrapped up the game.  Golden State’s leading scorer was Ellis with 33 points with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, but 5 turnovers, while Davis scored 23 with 4 rebounds, 15assists and a blocked shot; Jackson added 19 - including 3 treys -  with 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, while Pietrus pitched in with 14 with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

Toronto was led by Ford from off the bench with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists, while Parker scored 22 with 9 rebounds, an assist and a steal.  Golden State (40-23) now travels to Phoenix to face the Suns Thursday, while Toronto (34-30) flies east to Denver to take on the Nuggets Friday.

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