Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) tries to stop Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) from going to the net during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Poole poured in a career-high 43 points as the Golden State Warriors earned a 126-110 win and handed the Toronto Raptors a fifth consecutive loss on Sunday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
TORONTO – Jordan Poole poured in a career-high 43 points as the Golden State Warriors handed the Toronto Raptors their fifth straight loss, 126-110 on Sunday.
The five-game slide is the Raptors’ (13-17) most prolonged dry spell since they dropped seven in a row to conclude the 2020-21 season.
Meanwhile, the defending-champion Warriors (15-16) halted a three-game losing streak.
In the absence of injured two-time MVP Stephen Curry, Poole went 14-of-23 from the field, including five three-pointers, to top his previous best of 38 points.
Golden State sharpshooter Klay Thompson chipped in 17 points. Draymond Green and JaMychal Green were good for 17 and 15, respectively.
Pascal Siakam led the way for the Raptors with 27 points, while Fred VanVleet finished with 22. VanVleet was coming off back-to-back 39-point outings.
Toronto forward Scottie Barnes added 17 points.
Siakam opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers to give the Raptors a 6-3 lead. However, that was the final time the home side would have a lead in the game.
On the strength of Green’s 13 first-quarter points, including three consecutive three-pointers, the Warriors held a 36-26 advantage after the opening frame.
Despite beginning the second with a 5-0 run, the Raptors were behind 68-54 at halftime. Poole did most of the damage with 15 points in the frame for a first-half total of 25.
Golden State enjoyed a 102-80 edge after three quarters.
Curry missed his second game with a left shoulder ailment, and Canadian Andrew Wiggins (groin) was also out.
Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (quadriceps) missed his second straight outing.
ANUNOBY CLOSE
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse expects forward O.G. Anunoby to return to action at some point this week. Anunoby missed his fourth straight game on Sunday with a left hip strain and injured shooting hand
Nurse also revealed Anunoby had been dealing with an unspecified illness.
“I expect him back this week, sometime,” Nurse said. “What (the medical staff) said, is he’s back and through his sickness, and both his hand and his hip are improving.”
UP NEXT
The Raptors hit the road for three games, beginning on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, followed the New York Knicks on Wednesday and Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2022.
