Raptors at Warriors, game-day Dino-bytes

Our usual post-shootaround look at tonight’s Raptor-Warriors game.

 

TORONTO (23-37) at GOLDEN STATE (33-27)

Oracle Arena

TIPOFF: 10:30 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet One; RADIO: FAN590

WEB: The usual fun and frivolity of an in-game blog will commence just before 10:30 p.m.

 

Probable starters

Toronto: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson; Golden State: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, David Lee, Andris Biedrins.

 

Key backups tonight

Toronto: Jonas Valanciunas (can the big man have an inside impact), John Lucas III (made a bunch of three-pointers to key Saturday comeback in Milwaukee); Golden State: Jarrett Jack (ex-Raptor having a Sixth Man of the Year kind of season); Carl Landry (smallish big man plays hard on the glass).

 

Season series

Warriors lead, 1-0

Golden State rolled to a 114-102 win at the Air Canada Centre on the night they got centre Andre Bogut back. Bogut’s out again (bad back) but Stephen Curry left the game in Toronto with ankle issue and he’s fully healthy.

Oakland’s been a bit of a black hole for the Raptors, who have lost seven straight at the Oracle Arena.

 

What happened this morning?

One back, one out

Rudy Gay took part in shootaround, his back is better and Dwane Casey told us he’d be ready to go tonight.

Of course, they’ll still list him as a game-time decision but every indication suggests he’ll start again. The same can’t be said for Andrea Bargnani with any certainty, though.

He missed shootaround with an unspecified illness and while Casey said he would likely be able to play tonight, it’s not 100 per cent.

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Down on the farm

That’s where you’ll find Quincy Acy these days, he was assigned to Bakersfield of the D League today.

He was there for three games early this season so he’s used to it at least.

He also remains on Toronto’s roster so this is not some precursor to anything else, in case you were wondering.

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One for the stat pack

According to the crack Raptors PR staff, Kyle Lowry’s triple double on Saturday night (10-10-10) was the first by any NBA player since Rajon Rondo on Jan. 5, 2011, to include at least five steals as well.

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About the Warriors

They’re slumping, too.

The last game story from their eastern road trip makes that clear. Here it is.

Recognize these guys?

Michael Smith, Brent Barnaky and Eric Lewis draw the officiating duties; not an all-star crew.

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One more stat

DeMar DeRozan had nine assists (a career high) in Milwaukee; he’s now had nine games of five or more assists this year. He had five games of five-plus in the entirety of his first three seasons in the NBA.

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