The Golden State Warriors are hoping to add another victory to the win column in a matchup against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night. The Warriors currently hold the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference with a 40-29 record. With a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Golden State notched its eighth win in the last nine games. Warriors guard Gary Payton II has been solid in his team’s stretch of recent success. In fact, the seventh-year NBA pro logged a career-high 26 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on March 10. Hours before tipoff on Thursday, the Warriors ruled Payton “out” with left knee soreness.
Aside from Payton, the rest the Warriors’ roster is healthy and ready to go for Thursday night’s matchup against the Raptors. Superstar point guard Stephen Curry (rest) sat out for Tuesday’s win over the Bucks, but will be active against Toronto.
Through 56 games and 10 starts this season, Payton is averaging 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals per contest. The 32-year-old guard is shooting 57.8% from the field and 32.2% from behind the three-point arc. The Warriors will tipoff against the Raptors at 10 p.m. EDT. Toronto is currently on the cusp of playoff contention with 24-45 record and the No. 11 spot in the Western Conference.