Raptors survive an OT thriller against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors

The game’s best shooter in history, one of the greatest players the NBA has seen and a player whose roots in Toronto are as deep as is his ability to drain jumpers.

Every visit by Steph Curry brings with it that elusive event quality, a must-see moment, as Curry and the Golden State Warriors come around just once a year.

The connection to the Raptors’ 2019 championship only adds to the occasion.

The 2009 draft class ushered in Curry, a list topped off by No. 1 pick Blake Griffin, now better known by many as a pitchman for an American e-commerce company.

Of the draft class, Curry, James Harden and DeMar Rozan, whom the Raptors selected ninth overall, two slots after Curry, remain the most relevant.

Toss in Jrue Holiday, but the point is the sands in the hourglass are growing limited.

For Curry, his appeal is limitless.

And it continued Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena as the Raptors tipped off a five-game homestand, fresh off a very discouraging 1-2 road trip that began with a loss in Brooklyn and ended with a loss in Washington.

As is often the case, Curry saw multiple defenders, the first being Ochai Agbaji.

When he tried to shake free of Jamal Shead on Golden State’s final possession in regulation, Curry was called for an offensive foul.

He was nowhere near his best, but Curry still managed to put up 39 points in the Raptors’ 141-127 overtime win.

The following are three takeaways from a very entertaining and competitive game, a day when Scottie Barnes would upstage Curry in Toronto’s win.

1. Barnes On The Rebound

There was a positive angle to Barnes essentially filling the role at centre as the Raptors went with a small look in the wake of RJ Barrett’s return from a 15-game injury absence.

Barnes, it has been proven, is at his best and most lethal when operating in the post or mid-post.

The Raptors are better with a healthy Jakob Poeltl (back) in the lineup, but even his presence tends to clog the paint because the big man isn’t exactly a floor spacer.

Barnes needs to be fully engaged on offence, even in moments when the team’s primary scorer in Brandon Ingram is going off.

Against the Warriors, Barnes had 12 rebounds — at the half — and he also dished off six assists.

His nine points were a bonus in a game when scoring wasn’t an issue.

Barnes’ career high for rebounds in a game was 17.

He hauled down his 17th board on the afternoon with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Barnes blew past that mark, setting a career high with a dominant 25-rebound game to complement his 23 points.

He posted a triple-double, a statistical measurement Barnes should be flirting with each time he takes to the floor.

Mind you, a 23-point, 25-rebound and 10-assist game does not happen very often.

Barnes isn’t required to fill the net because his size, especially when matched up against smaller defenders, is a decided weapon.

It’s reflected on the glass where the Warriors had absolutely no answer for Barnes.

As for Barrett, at least he got his feet wet following his lengthy absence in the wake of a knee issue.

2. Green With Envy

One can count on one hand, perhaps even a few fingers, to list the amount of players the Raptors have featured in their 31-year existence who brought an edge to the court.

Charles Oakley immediately comes to mind, a tough and physical player whose hoops IQ was off the charts and whose passing and shooting, when he was in rhythm that is, were underrated.

The Raptors’ current iteration has no one to fill that role.

In Draymond Green, the Warriors have one of the league’s most unique talents, assuming he’s playing in control and not engaged in some petty game of theatrics.

Against the Raptors Sunday, Green was able to make shots from distance.

His defence has always been elite.

It would be fascinating to see a Raptors team with a Green-like player on the roster, but that’s more wishful thinking than reality.

Veteran Garrett Temple is the resident sage, but he only plays in garbage time.

When he’s not in foul trouble or banished to the locker room, Green is on the floor from the opening tap to the final buzzer.

3. Turnaround D

The Raptors gave up 139 points to the previously five-win Wizards Friday night, after the Raptors scored 140 points against Washington in a 30-point win when the teams first met.

Sunday against Golden State, the Raptors had their difficulties stopping the ball for the first three quarters.

When nobody showed any interest in putting a body on a Warriors player, easy put-backs followed.

When veteran Al Horford buried an open look from beyond the arc with just under two minutes left in the third quarter, it was the Warriors’ 12 three-pointer on the afternoon.

Toronto’s compete level was sagging, prompting head coach Darko Rajakovic to encourage his players.

Back-to-back-to-back turnovers forced by the Raptors led to six quick points as Toronto’s defensive intensity reached a level this team had never reached.

Toronto held the Warriors scoreless for the final 1:45 of the third quarter.

Up Next

Raptors’ homestand continues Monday when the Orlando Magic comes to town as Toronto wraps up its back-to-back set; Orlando continues to be without star forward Franz Wagner (ankle); it’s the first meeting between the two teams of the season and the first time the Raptors will face Desmond Bane as a member of the Magic.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com