The Golden State Warriors know that every team they face this season will be using that game as a measuring stick. Regardless of the losses that all 21 of the Warriors opponents have been dealt so far, there are still lessons to be taken away.
Games like Saturday’s offer windows into who players are as competitors. If you didn’t know that Kyle Lowry thrives in these environments, the Raptors point guard made it clear with a 41-point, seven-assist effort in a monster of a duel with Stephen Curry (44 points).
Lucas Nogueira’s contribution wasn’t as eye-popping — he had a career-best 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 25 minutes in the Raptors’ loss — but the second-year Brazilian centre showed up when his team needed him and kept them in it in the thick of battle against the best team in basketball.