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Toronto led early, it led big and played with a spirit that rubbed off on every player who saw the court
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Published Jan 21, 2026 • Last updated 10 minutes ago • 5 minute read
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Jamal Shead #23 of the Toronto Raptors is guarded by Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Chase Center on January 20, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Photo by Thearon W. Henderson /Getty Images
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One team was playing with boundless life, the other looking lifeless and completely listless.
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When the Raptors and Warriors last met in Toronto, the night turned into one of the highlights of the season, capped off by a 25-rebound triple-double posted by Scottie Barnes in an overtime win.
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The rematch was held Tuesday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, where the visitors were poised to chase the Warriors out of their own building.
In a way, they did, considering the hosts always trailed.
Toronto led early, it led big and played with a spirit that rubbed off on every player who saw the court.
At least on this night, no concerns of Toronto’s three-point shooting would be raised, no reason to worry knowing the Raptors were playing with an undermanned roster, no mercy shown as the onslaught was unyielding.
At one point, the visitors led by as many as 30 points.
Golden State was playing the second game of a back-to-back and was on its heels right from the jump.
The Warriors were much more engaged in the third quarter when they cut into Toronto’s huge advantage by capitalizing on every defensive breakdown as the Raptors gave up 44 points in the quarter.
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Oddly enough, it was Golden State’s bench that put a scare into the Raptors.
It was an 11-point game with six minutes remaining.
By far, the offensive star on this night was Immanuel Quickley, who tied his career-high in scoring in leading Toronto to its 145-121 win.
The output was the largest of the season by the Raptors.
The following are three takeaways from a Raptors win on a night the visitors turned Golden State into a team that was left in a state of shock.
1. Tricky Dicky starts
Gradey Dick has a long way to go to join “Tricky” Dick Thornton in terms of charisma and flamboyance, or even be mentioned in the same sentence as the legendary Argo, who lived life to its absolute fullest.
The Raptors have been looking to unlock Dick’s shooting on a team that has been unable to reach any level of shooting competence.
Oddly enough, the Raptors couldn’t miss to begin Tuesday night’s game.
One of Dick’s strengths is his off-the-ball movement, which was on display when he scored his first bucket.
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His perimeter presence was showcased when he buried a three-pointer.
Dick made his first start of the season in a reconfigured starting unit in the wake of injuries to Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb), RJ Barrett (ankle), Jakob Poeltl (back), and Ja’Kobe Walter (hip).
The night marked the eighth game in a row that saw the Raptors use a different starting group and the 15th different starting lineup of the season.
Dick played eight minutes in the opening quarter, scoring seven points on three attempts from the field.
He made 54 starts last season on an inferior Raptors team.
This year’s edition is much better, resulting in fewer minutes for Dick, who continues to search for his role.
While the start was welcome, it’s clear Dick has a long way to go in re-establishing himself as a legitimate rotation piece.
2. High I.Q.
When the Warriors visited Toronto late last month, Quickley poured in 27 points in an overtime win.
The pace Golden State wants to establish allows for more of a transition game, which clearly suits Quickley.
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What also helps is when Quickley is playing off the ball, which he did Tuesday as the Raptors started a two-point guard look with Jamal Shead inserted.
The way Quickley was making shots, it felt like he’d score 27 in the opening quarter.
In five minutes, he had eight points in staking the Raptors to a big lead.
Toronto jumped out to a quick and explosive 10-0 advantage.
On Toronto’s final possession of the opening quarter, Quickley’s draw and kick action led to a Sandro Mamukelashvili bucket as Toronto led 41-28 going into the second quarter.
In Sunday’s loss to the Lakers, the Raptors were held to 39 points in the second half.
On the same night, Toronto made a total of seven three-pointers.
Four minutes into Tuesday’s tip and the Raptors had already made seven three-balls in taking a 21-point lead over a weary Warriors team.
Quickley would score a season-high 40 points to match his career high.
3. Butler can’t do it
The Jimmy Butler knee injury can’t be overstated, a crushing blow to the Warriors that will shape how the franchise moves forward.
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Steph Curry has been the face of the Warriors and one of the faces of the NBA, an icon whom many felt would spend his entire career with Golden State.
Without Butler, is it possible Curry will one day have a new home?
The chances of the Warriors winning another championship are pretty bleak.
Curry has accomplished all there is to achieve on a personal and team level.
Adding a fifth title to his resume seems out of reach.
Even a healthy Butler didn’t assure a championship, but a healthy Butler would have helped.
A pivot is required for Golden State as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches.
Butler was injured Monday when the Warriors played host to the Miami Heat, whom Butler almost single-handedly led to the 2020 NBA final before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the hours leading up to Tuesday night’s tip, the Warriors announced Butler had been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee, an injury that will sideline the 36-year-old for the balance of the season.
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It’s a brutal blow to Butler and an even bigger blow to the Warriors.
The contracts of the Warriors’ Big 3 – Butler, Curry and Draymond Green – each expire after next season.
Following a tough start to the season, Golden State won 12 of 16 games to move into eighth place in a deep and elite Western Conference.
The Raptors and Warriors entered the night with identical 25-19 records.
In the East, which is nowhere near as good as the West, the record is good enough to hold down the fourth seed.
With Butler out for the season, it will be interesting to see what becomes of Jonathan Kuminga, who has demanded a trade.
He started the second quarter on Tuesday and gave the Warriors a lift in the third quarter.
Up next
Third and final tip in California sees the Raptors play the host Sacramento Kings Wednesday night as both teams complete a back-to-back set; Sacramento had won four in a row during its seven-game homestand until Portland crowned the Kings Sunday; Miami was in town Tuesday; Raptors wrap up their five-game Western swing with a date in Portland Friday night before heading to Oklahoma City for Sunday’s road finale.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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