PREVIEW: Conference Leaders Clash — Toronto Raptors (24-8) at Warriors (25-5)

Toronto Raptors (24-8) at Golden State Warriors (25-5)

Tip-off: Friday, January 2nd, 2015 – 7:30PM PST

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM

Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive

Projected Starting Lineups:

Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry (22.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.7 APG)

SG: Klay Thompson (21.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.3 APG)

SF: Harrison Barnes (10.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.5 APG)

PF: Draymond Green (12.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.4 APG)

C: Marreese Speights (12.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.0 APG)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr (25-5, .833)

Raptors

PG: Kyle Lowry (21.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.7 APG)

SG: Terrence Ross (15.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.9 APG)

SF: James Johnson (7.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.5 APG)

PF: Amir Johnson (9.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.6 APG)

C: Jonas Valanciunas (12.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 0.5 APG)

Head Coach: Dwane Casey (182-202, .474)

Last Times Out

PREVIOUS WARRIORS GAME: On Tuesday, 12/30/2014, Golden State beat Philadelphia, 126-86.

PREVIOUS RAPTORS GAME: On Tuesday, 12/30/2014, Toronto lost at Portland 97-102.

PREVIOUS WARRIORS-RAPTORS MATCHUP: On 3/2/2014, Curry scored 34 points but Golden State lost in Toronto, 104-98.

PREVIOUS WARRIORS-RAPTORS MATCHUP AT ORACLE: On 12/3/2013, Curry tallied 27 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals in an epic 27-point second-half comeback.

Game Notes

• “Steve Kerr said GSW centers Andrew Bogut (right knee) and Festus Ezeli (left ankle) are still making progress, but neither will play Fri.” — Rusty Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle (1/1/2015)

• “DeMar DeRozan went through his first full practice today since his injury. Likely to return at some point on upcoming home stand.” — Eric Koreen, Toronto National Post

• “‘Their record stands for itself,’ Curry said. ‘Even without DeMar (DeRozan), they have a pretty deep team, a pretty big lineup that they can throw out there. Obviously, Kyle Lowry is playing really well. We’ve got to be ready, because they play well on the road and at home.’

  Toronto has managed to go 11-5 without their All-Star wing, who has a torn muscle in his groin. The Warriors managed the season’s early-going without All-Star power David Lee (left hamstring) and now have won eight of 11 without center Andrew Bogut (right knee).

  The Raptors have a huge frontline and relentlessly attack the offensive glass, but the Warriors believe they can still play some small ball and push the tempo.” — Simmons

• “Landry Fields has passed concussion protocol, and practiced today. Will have to do again tonight/get doctor’s clearance to play @ GSW.” — Koreen

• “Tonight’s GSW-TOR game is first time #Warriors led Western Conf and face team leading East Conf was since 1975. Second time ever for GSW.” — Monte Poole, CSN Bay Area