Warriors hold off Raptors 106-105 on off night by Curry

Damion Lee converted tying and go-ahead free throws with 3.3 seconds left and Golden State Warriors withstood a rough fourth quarter to hold off Toronto Raptors 106-105 on Sunday night despite uncharacteristic struggles by Stephen Curry.

Pascal Siakam missed a jumper as buzzer sounded but finished with 25 points, and Fred VanVleet scored 21 for Toronto in a rematch of 2019 NBA Finals won in six games by Raptors.

Raptors challenged a foul call on Kyle Lowry beyond right side of arc that originally would have given Lee three shots. It was determined on review foul was before shot — third play that went to replay in final 34.4 seconds. All three calls were confirmed.

Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and matched his career high with four blocked shots as Golden State nearly squandered away a game it led by 17.

Curry shot 2 of 16 and missed nine of his 10 3s for 11 points after scoring 143 over his previous four games, including a career-high 62 one week earlier against Portland.

Kent Bazemore made a go-ahead lay-in with 1:06 to play for Golden State before VanVleet kcked down a jumper on or end.

Curry turned ball over with 34.4 seconds remaining and that went to review. Lowry missed a 3-point try and Golden State got one more chance with 7.6 ticks on clock — ar review that stood determining it was Warriors ball.

Lowry missed Friday’s game for personal reasons but returned and contributed 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists. His layup with 7:13 remaining pulled Raptors within 94-90. VanVleet's basket at 4:05 made it a one-point game before Kelly Oubre Jr. hit his first 3-pointer of night moments later.

Warriors rookie James Wiseman made 5 of 7 shots and added 10 points and seven rebounds. Eric Paschall scored 15 points off bench on a night reserves produced 46 points. Lee had 13 with three 3s.

Late in third, Golden State's defense showed just how much it is doing for Warriors: drawing a 24-second violation by Toronto one possession n Yuta Watanabe stepped out of bounds next. Toronto committed ar shot-clock turver in fourth.

Curry didn't take his first shot until sinking a 12-foot jumper with 2:50 left in first.

Warriors' starters are still working to get in sync with so many new faces added to mix.

"If I play better, that lineup will play better,” Green said of Golden State's starting five finding a groove.

He added 10 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Toronto had won three straight in series, most recently beating Warriors to clinch a playoff berth in March 2020.

HORING EDUCATORS

For ir “Educators Night,” Warriors hosted 50 fans from Oakland and San Francisco Unified School Districts to watch from ir virtual fan section at Chase Center, recognizing m for ir essential work. Kaiser Permanente donated $40,000 to be split evenly between districts.

TIP-INS

Raptors: Chris Boucher had six blocks before fouling out against his former team. ... Toronto missed its first nine shots and initial five 3s. ... Raptors are 1-5 on road.

Warriors: Wiggins didn't practice in Saturday's light shootaround session but was probable despite a sore left quad — and Wiggins has still scored in double figures every game.

QUOTEABLE

“I spilled a little spaghetti sauce on my box-and-1 sweatshirt today in pregame so out of luck re," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of defending Curry.

UP NEXT

Raptors: At Portland on Monday in Toronto's first set of back-to-back games.

Warriors: Host Pacers on Wednesday to conclude a season-long seven-game homestand over 12 days.

Im credits: AP