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Conference leaders collide when Warriors host Raptors

Jan 2, 2015 - 3:03 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors are the top teams in their respective conferences and the two powers will collide Friday night in the Bay Area.

The Warriors have the best record in the NBA at 25-5 and are a tough out at home as evidenced by their 12-1 record inside Oracle Arena. They are 2-0 on a six-game homestand and face the stiffest challenge on the stay versus Toronto.

Golden State posted its fourth win in the last six tries by pulverizing the Philadelphia 76ers, 126-86, on Tuesday thanks to a 56.1 percent scoring clip and 23 points from former Sixer Marreese Speights. Leandro Barbosa scored 17 points off the bench, while the usual suspects of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 27 points.

David Lee had 13 points and Draymond Green ended with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, as they recorded a 10th straight win at home and scored 30 or more points in three of the four quarters. Golden State led by as many as 47 points in the second half and totaled 38 assists with 19 steals.

"I was really pleased with the ball movement. What made me the most happy was the way our reserves closed out the game," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Our guys really played hard through the final 12 minutes."

The Warriors took advantage of the turnover-prone Sixers by scoring 43 points off 28 miscues. They are first in the NBA in field goal percentage (48.2) and tied for second with Toronto in points (108.1).

Golden State, which is 17-0 when holding opposing teams under 100 points, rattled off 15 straight home wins back in 1989-90. It is first in opponents' field goal percentage (42.0) and second in blocks (6.38) and defensive rebounds (35.2).

The Warriors still have Oklahoma City, Indiana and Cleveland to entertain on this homestand.

Toronto will try to penetrate Golden State's tough defense when it continues a six-game road trip Friday night. After losing to Chicago to open the trek, the Raptors are 2-1 on the western portion of the jaunt and suffered a 102-97 overtime loss in Portland on Tuesday.

Portland scored 15 of the 25 points in the extra period and was led by Damian Lillard's 26 points and nine assists. LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and 13 rebounds for the hosts, while the Raptors were led by Kyle Lowry's 25 points.

"They're one of the best teams in the NBA," said Lowry, who has scored 20 or more points in five straight games. "They've got two All-Stars over there. They're a complete team."

James Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 points apiece for Toronto, which was coming off back-to-back wins over the Clippers and Nuggets. The Raptors are still 8-2 in their last 10 games and 10-5 away from Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors received some good news this week on DeMar DeRozan, who was back at practice after missing time with a groin injury. The Raptors are 11-5 without the All-Star DeRozan, who is close to returning to the floor.

"It may seem like I'm patient, but I go crazy watching the games or being at home and not able to do my normal routine that I'd be doing if I was playing," DeRozan said Thursday after his first full practice since the setback. "So it's tough. It's not an easy thing at all."

DeRozan may return next week for Toronto, which closes this trip (2-2) Sunday against the Phoenix Suns and leads the NBA in scoring on the road with 111.1 points per game. Lowry is averaging team highs of 22.8 points and 8.9 assists in DeRozan's absence.

Toronto and Golden State will play the first of two meetings this season and are slated to tangle Feb. 27 north of the border. The Raptors and Warriors split a pair of contests in 2013-14.

The Warriors have won nine in a row at home versus the Raptors, whose last win in Oakland came on Feb. 8, 2004 in overtime (84-81). Curry is averaging 28.1 ppg in eight career games against Toronto.