Golden State Warriors strive for playoff positioning against Toronto Raptors

On March 20, 2025, the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors faced off in a non-conference matchup that took place in San Francisco. Both teams came into the game with different standings, with the Warriors holding a 39-29 record and currently positioned sixth in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the Raptors struggled at 24-45, ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference. The game marked the first meeting of the season between these two teams, featuring Draymond Green for the Warriors and Scottie Barnes for the Raptors, showcasing contrasting fortunes in their respective seasons. As the Warriors played without their star guard Stephen Curry, who was rested, the team relied heavily on Jimmy Butler, who was a recent addition and had significantly impacted the squad's performance since joining from the Miami Heat. Butler was instrumental in a previous win against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he showcased his playmaking skills with 24 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. His presence had a substantial effect on opening up the floor and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates, as he averaged 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 17 games with the Warriors. The Warriors aimed for a split in the season series against the Raptors after losing their previous encounter this season. Meanwhile, the Raptors were looking to bounce back from their recent poor performance, having suffered a heavy loss to the Phoenix Suns, which left them at 8-25 on the road. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic acknowledged the need for the team to move forward and fill the cup with energy and compete against the Warriors. Although the Raptors had talented players like Barnes and RJ Barrett, the team's struggles on the road impacted their performance. With both teams eager to make their mark, this matchup was another chapter in their ongoing battles amid the NBA season.