It's been a difficult road trip for the Toronto Raptors, but they have a good chance to end it on a high note against a team that's been playing even worse.
The Raptors look to salvage a split of their six-game road trip Monday when it concludes with a game against the Golden State Warriors.Toronto (12-18) began this trip with a pair of losses, but recovered to win a pair of games in California, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 97-75 last Monday and Sacramento 107-101 on Friday.
The Raptors were unable to win their third straight Saturday, losing 102-89 in Portland after managing only 10 points in the third quarter. Chris Bosh scored 29 points to lead Toronto in the losing effort, and Jermaine O'Neal added 17.
Toronto will now try to end the road trip with a 3-3 record - possibly an easier task than winning any of their next three contests. Toronto returns home this week to face Denver, Houston and Orlando. The Nuggets and Magic both lead their respective divisions while the Rockets are 20-11.
"It's just disappointing right now to lose a game," Raptors coach Jay Triano said. "We try to play every game one at a time and that's what we'll have to do for the last one. When it's over and if you can go 3-3, you go 'Not a bad road trip on the West Coast.'"
Toronto defeated the Warriors (9-23) 112-108 in overtime at home on Oct. 31, led by 31 points from Bosh. However, the Raptors have lost their last four visits to Oracle Arena by an average of 13.5 points. They haven't won at Golden State since an 84-81 overtime victory in 2004.
Given the Warriors' current struggles, Toronto looks to have a good shot at ending that drought. Although the Warriors upset the reigning champion Celtics 99-89 on Friday, they failed to build on that momentum Sunday, losing 130-113 to the Los Angeles Lakers for their eighth defeat in 10 games.
Golden State's defense, which had held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 100 points for only the second time this season, allowed the Lakers to shoot 51.5 percent from the field. The Warriors are allowing an NBA-worst 111.3 points per game.
"Our defense wasn't even close to what we had against Boston and it definitely showed," said Stephen Jackson, who scored nine points after recording 28 on Friday in his return from a four-game absence due to a sprained left hand. "We didn't approach the game the same way we did the Boston game. We had more intensity, were up for that game and we weren't today."
Jamal Crawford led the Warriors with 22 points in Sunday's loss after missing the previous two contests with a groin strain. Crawford averaged 30.5 points in four games against the Raptors last season while with the Knicks.
