SAN FRANCISCO — In theory, the Warriors newest starting five, their 13th one this year, is built to beat the best of them. In practice, it flunked harder than nearly any other group of Warriors to take the floor this year in the Warriors’ 133-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. Fans had a feeling it’d be one of the Warriors’ worst efforts of the season and boo’d them after the halftime buzzer.
Once coach Steve Kerr cleared the benches for garbage time with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Chase Center emptied. It was one of the Warriors’ worst defensive performances made worse with Draymond Green watching from the bench — reinstated from his indefinite suspension, but unavailable to play due to conditioning.
Coach Steve Kerr paired Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga together alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis, but the group was a minus-12 in six minutes together. The Raptors offense torched them in transition, no rotation off the bench could get a stop and the Warriors allowed a season-high 76 points at the half.
Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins (22) takes a shot against Toronto Raptors’ Jontay Porter (11) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
On paper, Kuminga and Wiggins together gives Golden State all the size and length defensively, force on the boards and downhill threat offensively to counter the Raptors and other teams with athleticism and size. But the pair struggled to score and rebound and Curry was often left alone defending a switch.
Golden State turned up the heat defensively in the second half and Klay Thompson scored 11 third-quarter points to cut Toronto’s 27-point lead down to nine. Thompson was subbed out with a minute remaining in the third quarter and the Raptors went on a 22-11 run to get their lead back up to 25 mid-way through the fourth quarter before Kerr waved the white flag. Curry had an off night, going 2-for-14 from the field and 0-for-9 from 3.
The Warriors are 2-4 on this seven-game homestand, closing out against the hot New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday before they head on the road again to Chicago, Milwaukee, Memphis and Salt Lake City. The Warriors are 17-19.
Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) blocks a shot against Golden State Warriors’ Dario Šarić (20) in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) dives for a loose ball against Toronto Raptors’ Dennis Schröder (17) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Dario Šarić (20) forces a turnover against Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (4) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) fights for a rebound against Toronto Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl (19) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) reacts to no foul called during a play against the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) dunks the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) dribbles against Toronto Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley (5) in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) takes a shot against Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr walks on the sidelines during their game against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) dribbles against Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett (9) in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) heads to the bench during a timeout during their game against the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) acknowledges someone in the stands during the Warriors game against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Toronto Raptors’ Otto Porter Jr. (32) receives his 2021-2022 NBA championship ring, he won while playing for the Golden State Warriors that season, from Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) before the Warriors game against the Raptors at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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