Steph Curry Scores 23 in Return from Hand Injury as Warriors Fall to Raptors

The Toronto Raptors already defeated Stephen Curry in last season's NBA Finals, and they weren't about to let his return prevent them from beating this version of the Golden State Warriors.

Toronto defeated Golden State 121-113 in Thursday's NBA Finals rematch at Chase Center. Norman Powell and Kyle Lowry led the way for the Raptors, helping them improve to 44-18 on the season with a second straight win. 

The big news for the 14-49 Warriors was Curry's return to the floor for the first time since Oct. 30 because of a broken hand, although it didn't help them temporarily stem the tide in what has been a lost and frustrating season of consistent defeats.

Notable Player Stats

• TOR G Norman Powell: 37 points, three rebounds and three steals
• TOR G Kyle Lowry: 26 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and two steals
• GS G Stephen Curry: 23 points, seven assists and seven rebounds
• GS G Damion Lee: 23 points, five rebounds and three assists
• GS G Andrew Wiggins: 21 points and nine rebounds

Steph Shines Even in Defeat 

There was a palpable buzz at a Warriors game for the first time since the season's first week, and it was clear who the fans were there to see.

This is a lost season for Golden State, and there was no reason to rush Curry back. However, returning with 20 games left gives him a chance to test his hand before attention turns to 2020-21, when a healthy Klay Thompson will return from his ACL tear. It also allows him to see how he fits alongside the newly acquired Andrew Wiggins.

Curry has already secured his legacy as a future Hall of Famer and arguably the best shooter in NBA history with a resume that includes three championships, two league MVPs, six All-NBA selections and six All-Star nods.

What he does in the next chapter as he, Thompson and Draymond Green continue to move past their athletic primes and the Warriors retool without Kevin Durant will be far more important than the rest of this season, which is something head coach Steve Kerr surely had in mind when he told reporters the plan was to play Curry for less than 30 total minutes in four-to-five-minute spurts.

While Toronto held Steph scoreless in the first quarter by swarming him with extra defenders, he unleashed a dazzling behind-the-back pass to Wiggins and created plenty of space for his teammates. Lee took full advantage of that room with his outside shot, helping keep the Warriors in the game.

Curry found his stroke, unleashing from well beyond the arc, scoring an acrobatic and-1 and converting a four-point play, all while darting between defenders and bouncing off screens. 

His energy and the excitement it created throughout the crowd was considerable, and he spearheaded a 7-0 run in the final minutes to put the Warriors on the brink of a dramatic win. While the team did fall short, fans were at least treated to flashes of vintage Curry during another loss.

Norman Powell Explodes Before Siakam, Lowry Close

Injuries have contributed to the derailing of the Warriors' season, but it was the Raptors who were the playoff team battling through attrition Thursday.

Marc Gasol (hamstring), Fred VanVleet (shoulder) and Serge Ibaka (knee) were all sidelined, which theoretically put the onus on Lowry and Pascal Siakam to carry the offense. Yet it was Powell who exploded for 23 points in the first half and showed off the range fans expected to see from Curry.

He also consistently attacked the lane and flashed into space, continuing his recent run of success and extending his streak of games with more than 20 points to four.

It also underscored how effective he can be in the playoffs as a secondary scoring spark who can capitalize when opposing defenses home in on the Lowry-Siakam combination. Powell can score in a number of ways and could even swing a series if he heats up alongside one of Toronto's primary playmakers.

There are better opponents on the horizon as Powell continues his career season, but showings like Thursday's should only do wonders for his confidence. That will be key when postseason teams focus the majority of their attention on slowing his leading teammates.

That attention still didn't help Golden State stop the pair of All-Stars with the game on the line. Lowry racked up assists and added timely baskets, while Siakam scored the most important points of the game in the final two minutes—first a driving layup to stop a 7-0 run and then a massive and-1 that came with a two-point lead.

Toronto's balance was too much for the Warriors to overcome, and Siakam provided the key knockout blows even though he struggled with his shot for much of the game (5-of-17 from the field).

What's Next?

The Warriors host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, while the Raptors visit the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.