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After impressive season opener, Raptors host Warriors

Oct 31, 2008 - 10:54 AM Golden State (0-1) at Toronto (1-0) 7:00 p.m. EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors got off to a strong start in their season opener. The Golden State Warriors were close to a similar beginning, but came up short.

Eyeing a 2-0 start, the Raptors meet the Warriors, who will try avoid consecutive losses to start the new campaign on Friday.

The first night of the Chris Bosh-Jermaine O'Neal experiment worked to perfection for Toronto, which got a combined 44 points and 19 rebounds from its high-priced frontcourt en route to a 95-84 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

O'Neal, the former Indiana Pacers star who has been riddled with injuries over the last four years, was acquired by the Raptors in an offseason trade. If the opener is any indication, his pairing Bosh, the All-Star and Olympian who has led Toronto to the playoffs the last two seasons, could make for a formidable tandem.

The Warriors were close to downing the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, but couldn't finish off a team that many expect to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.

Corey Maggette, who scored 27 points, hit two free throws with 28 seconds left after being fouled by Chris Paul on a scramble for a rebound to give Golden State a 103-102 lead.

Paul came back and drove to the hoop and hit a layup to put the Hornets back on top, 104-103, with 17 seconds left.

Golden State committed a turnover with 14 seconds left as an inbounds pass from Stephen Jackson to Maggette went awry and out of bounds.

After Peja Stojakovic hit two free throws to open the advantage to 106-103, Al Harrington missed a 3-point shot, and Rasual Butler was fouled and made a pair of free throws to seal the Warriors' fate.