Theoretically, the 13th starting lineup for the Warriors this season is designed to defeat the best of them. In Sunday night’s 133-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Warriors’ practice squad failed more miserably than almost any other club to play this season. The Warriors were jeered by the crowd after the halftime siren because they thought it would be one of their worst performances of the year.
With just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Chase Center emptied as coach Steve Kerr cleared the benches for trash time. Draymond Green, who was back on the field after an indefinite suspension but was unable to play because of conditioning, added insult to injury to one of the Warriors’ worst defensive efforts.
Along with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, coach Steve Kerr partnered Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, but in just six minutes, the quartet was minus-12. The Raptors offense dominated them in transition, the Warriors let up a season-high 76 points at the half, and no player off the bench was able to get a stop.
Together, Kuminga and Wiggins give Golden State the defensive bulk, strength on the boards, and offensive downhill threat necessary to match up with the Raptors and other large and athletic teams. But, the duo had trouble scoring and grabbing rebounds, as Curry was frequently forced to guard a switch by himself.
Klay Thompson scored 11 points in the third quarter to cut Toronto’s 27-point lead to nine points as Golden State upped their defensive game in the second half. After Thompson was replaced with one minute remaining in the third quarter, the Raptors went on a 22-11 run to retake the lead halfway through the fourth quarter, and then Kerr signaled the end of the game. Curry had a poor game; he was 2 for 14 from the field and 0 for 9 from three.
After playing the scorching New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday to wrap up their seven-game homestand, the Warriors, who are now 2-4, will travel to Chicago, Milwaukee, Memphis, and Salt Lake City in their next road trip. The Warriors are 17–19.