TORONTO -- DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points to lead the Toronto Raptors past the Golden State Warriors 104-98 on Sunday afternoon.
Kyle Lowry added 13 points and eight assists for Toronto (33-26), while Patrick Patterson had 12 points and five rebounds.
Stephen Curry scored a game-high 34 points for Golden State (36-24) and David Lee added 20 points and 11 rebounds.
In the victory, DeRozan won the efficiency battle against Curry. While Curry finished with 34 points on 13-for-27 shooting, DeRozan put in an All-Star performance, scoring his 32 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor and 11-for-12 from the line.
Golden State went ahead by five points early in the fourth quarter before the Raptors reeled off an 11-0 run to take a 92-86 lead with less than six minutes remaining. Toronto's fourth quarter scoring attack was led by DeRozan who scored 12 of his 32 in the quarter. The Warriors kept things close down the stretch but were unable to get closer than five points.
The game was close throughout, with Toronto holding a five-point lead at halftime. Things remained tight in the third with Curry scoring 14 in the quarter. The Warriors took a three-point advantage into the final quarter, ahead 78-75.
In a game with little defence early, the Raptors shot 57 per cent through the first quarter, but found themselves behind by three at the end of one.
Jonas Valanciunas got off to a strong start for Toronto, connecting on his first four field goals of the game. After Lowry picked up two quick fouls in the opening frame, Greivis Vasquez entered the game and wasted little time getting into a groove, leading the Raptors on a 10-0 run to help Toronto to a 55-50 halftime lead.
The victory avenged a Dec. 3rd loss in Oakland that saw the Warriors complete a 27-point comeback and outscore Toronto 42-15 in the fourth quarter.
Terrence Ross missed the game for the Raptors after spraining his ankle in the first half of Toronto's triple-overtime loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Landry Fields started in his place. It was the second start for Fields this season.
Jermaine O'Neal was not available for the Warriors after the team discovered he was missing his passport. O'Neal had been with the team for their previous game against New York and head coach Mark Jackson said the team would meet him in Indiana for their Tuesday night game against the Pacers.
Former NHLer and star of the 1972 Summit Series Paul Henderson was in attendance as was current Toronto Maple Leaf Joffrey Lupul.
