The Golden State Warriors entered Scotiabank Arena on December 28, 2025, looking to extend a promising run and notch their first four-game winning streak of the season. Instead, the Toronto Raptors delivered a stinging 141-127 overtime defeat, snapping the Warriors’ momentum and sending a clear message that Toronto, despite recent struggles, remains a force to be reckoned with on its home court.
Both squads came into the contest short-handed, with injuries and rotation uncertainties looming large over the pregame chatter. The Warriors were without De’Anthony Melton due to a left knee issue and Seth Curry, sidelined by a thigh/sciatic injury. Brandin Podziemski was listed as probable with an abdominal concern, and Jonathan Kuminga’s status was up in the air due to illness. Toronto, meanwhile, faced its own setbacks, missing starting center Jakob Poeltl (back injury), while RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles were questionable at tip-off with a knee injury and illness, respectively.
The opening tip at 8:30 PM ET (6:30 PM PT) marked the start of a high-octane battle broadcast across NBA League Pass, NBC Sports Bay Area, TSN, and Sportsnet. Fans in attendance and those tuning in from home expected star power, and the marquee names did not disappoint. Golden State’s Stephen Curry, averaging 24.5 points per game, once again put on a scoring clinic, racking up 39 points—his 10th 30-plus point performance of the season. Yet, as has happened too often for the Warriors this year, Curry’s heroics weren’t enough to secure the win.
“Steph was incredible tonight,” said head coach Steve Kerr, reflecting on Curry’s performance that included a flawless 11-for-11 from the free-throw line and a four-point play that gave the Warriors a brief lead early in the second half. “He just keeps finding ways to lift us, but we need to help him more, especially down the stretch.”
For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes was a revelation. The versatile forward notched a jaw-dropping 25 rebounds—yes, 25!—and helped anchor a relentless Toronto attack that saw three players top 20 points and all five starters finish in double figures. Immanuel Quickley (21.5 points, 6.4 assists per game) and the rest of the Raptors’ core capitalized on every Warriors miscue, particularly on the glass and in transition.
The game’s flow was anything but predictable. Golden State, fresh off a 126-116 Christmas Day victory over Dallas that saw seven players in double figures, looked poised to carry that balanced approach into Toronto. The Warriors built a 12-point lead late in the third quarter, seemingly in control as Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green all found their rhythm. Butler contributed 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Green broke out of a shooting slump to tally 21 points, including four three-pointers—his most in a game since early November.
But then, as if a switch had been flipped, the Raptors roared back. An 8-0 run to close the third quarter, fueled by two free throws and three consecutive Warriors turnovers, cut the deficit to just four points. The Scotiabank Arena crowd, restless after five straight home losses, found its voice as Toronto’s energy ramped up. The Raptors’ rebounding advantage—55 to 42 overall, with 18 offensive boards—translated directly into second-chance points, as they poured in 29 off of extra opportunities. Barnes’ dominance on the boards was particularly striking, as he single-handedly out-rebounded much of Golden State’s frontcourt.
“Scottie was everywhere tonight,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said postgame. “His effort on the glass gave us life when we needed it most.”
Turnovers, though, were the Warriors’ undoing. Golden State finished with 21 turnovers to Toronto’s 15, a stat that directly led to 35 Raptors points. The Warriors now hold a 4-13 record when committing more turnovers than their opponents, compared to a sparkling 12-3 mark when they keep the battle even or win it. The mistakes were especially costly in crunch time: Golden State coughed up the ball five times in the fourth quarter’s clutch minutes and twice more in overtime, while the Raptors played clean and capitalized with 11 points off those late miscues.
“We’ve talked about valuing possessions all season,” Draymond Green lamented. “You can’t give a team like Toronto that many extra chances, especially on their home floor.”
The loss stung all the more given how well the Warriors had played in stretches. Green’s resurgence from beyond the arc—hitting four threes after a month-long slump—was a bright spot, as was the continued emergence of Jimmy Butler as a secondary scorer and playmaker. But the Raptors’ collective effort, with seven players in double figures and a relentless approach to rebounding and transition offense, ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Toronto’s ability to move the ball—ranking top five in the league with 29.3 assists per game—was on full display. The Raptors’ offense hummed, finding open shooters and cutters as the Warriors scrambled to recover from missed assignments and turnovers. The absence of Poeltl in the middle didn’t slow Toronto’s interior attack, as the Raptors exploited mismatches and kept the pressure on Golden State’s defense.
The defeat dropped the Warriors to 16-16 on the season, a frustrating setback as they embarked on a three-game road trip. The loss also continued a troubling trend: Golden State is now 4-6 when Curry scores at least 30 points, underscoring the need for more consistent production from the supporting cast. The Raptors, improving to 19-14, snapped their home losing streak in emphatic fashion, buoyed by a raucous crowd and a statement performance from their young core.
Looking ahead, the Warriors will need to regroup quickly. With another game on the back-to-back looming, load management for veterans like Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton will be a storyline to watch. Head coach Steve Kerr, who had finally settled on a consistent starting five—Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Quinten Post—faces tough decisions as he tries to balance health and competitiveness on a grueling road swing.
For Toronto, the win offers hope that the team can weather injuries and inconsistency, especially with Barnes and Quickley stepping into larger roles. The Raptors’ ability to exploit Golden State’s mistakes and dominate the glass could serve as a blueprint as they look to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
As the final buzzer sounded, the story of the night was clear: in a game shaped by injuries, lineup questions, and high expectations, it was Toronto’s resilience and opportunism that carried the day. The Warriors, left to rue missed chances and costly turnovers, will have to wait a little longer for that elusive four-game win streak.
