The Toronto Raptors were in control of Thursday’s matchup in Golden State for most of the way and withstood a late Warriors push to clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Thursday night’s matchup between your World Champion Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors was a big-time matchup for a multitude of reasons. First off, it was a matchup between the same two squads that faced off in the 2019 NBA Finals, albeit with very, very different rosters this time around. Second, it represented the return of two-time MVP Stephen Curry from a 58-game absence due to a broken hand. And finally, and most importantly, it represented a chance for the Raptors to clinch a playoff spot at the 62-game mark of the 2019-20 regular season.
Toronto certainly came out and played like a team that understood the significance of the matchup.
TERENCE DAVIS!! Throwing it down between defenders!! pic.twitter.com/nbW0dqm9vY
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 6, 2020
Kyle Lowry and Co. came out firing on all cylinders, and certainly appear to play with a little edge anytime they’re opposed by the Dubs. Behind Lowry’s blend of scoring, playmaking, and tough defence, the Raptors were able to take a seven-point lead into the half.
https://twitter.com/FanSided/status/1235779609892999169
But I would be remiss not to mention Norman Powell, who has looked awesome in every game since his late-February return.
Powell had 23 of his 37 points in the first half and along with Lowry, was the driving force behind a Toronto Raptors’ win on a night where Pascal Siakam was off his game. The player development in Toronto continues to be king and if they can continue to get high-level production out of Powell while they await the return of Marc Gasol and Fred VanVleet, they will have a very good chance of holding on to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.