TORONTO — Ochai Agbaji sank a crucial basket with 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 104-101 comeback victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
Scottie Barnes was a standout for the Raptors, contributing 23 points to the scoreboard, while Jakob Poeltl recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. This win marked only the second triumph for Toronto in their last 18 matches.
Chris Boucher added 18 points, RJ Barrett supported with 15, and both Agbaji and Gradey Dick contributed 12 points each. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry led the team with 26 points, and Andrew Wiggins added 20 points as Golden State faced their second consecutive loss, having dropped four out of their last five games.
In a dramatic finish, Buddy Hield of the Warriors had a chance to tie the game but was unable to connect on a 3-pointer in the final moments. The Raptors found themselves down 86-77 after Lindy Waters III hit a 3-pointer with 9:27 left on the clock, yet they turned the game around, outscoring the Warriors 27-15 in the closing stretch.
Golden State was once again without the services of Draymond Green, who missed his second game in a row due to illness, while Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley was sidelined with a sore left hip.
In terms of performance, Hield, who led the Warriors with 17 points in their previous loss to Indiana, had an off night against the Raptors. He struggled mightily, shooting 3 for 13 from the field, including just 2 for 10 from beyond the arc, finishing the game with only eight points.
The Raptors, meanwhile, began the game shooting 9 for 23 on 3-pointers in the first half, but significantly reduced their attempts in the second half, going 3 for 6.
One of the pivotal moments of the game came when Curry missed a 3-pointer that could have given the Warriors the lead with only 45 seconds remaining. Boucher secured the rebound and quickly set up Agbaji for a fast-break dunk, which shifted momentum towards Toronto.
In a notable statistic, Boucher registered 17 of his 18 points in the final quarter alone, showcasing his crucial role in the Raptors’ victory.
Looking ahead, both teams will take to the court again on Wednesday: Golden State will visit Minnesota, while the Raptors will host Boston.
