Gameday: Steph Curry Expected to Make Return for Warriors in Toronto

The Warriors expect to have Stephen Curry back in the lineup Saturday, when they face the Toronto Raptors in a game that meets all the requirements of a shootout.

Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 3:30 p.m., with tipoff at Air Canada Centre scheduled for 4:35.

The Warriors (34-9) will be on second night of a back-to-back set, having prevailed against the Bucks on Friday night in Milwaukee. Curry was on the sideline for the second consecutive game but likely will play in one of his favorite arenas, having become familiar with it as child when he father, Dell, was a member of the Raptors.

The Raptors have never won more than 56 games (2015-16) but at 29-11 are on pace to win 59. They have been particularly tough at home, where their 15-2 record is the best in the Eastern Conference.

The Warriors lead the league in scoring (115.6 points per game), while Toronto is third (112.1).

BETTING LINE

Warriors by 4

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Klay Thompson vs. DeMar DeRozan: These two All-Stars are quite familiar with each other dating back to their days as teenagers in the Los Angeles area. Thompson is arguably best two-way shooting guard in the league, and DeRozan has become an offensive machine, averaging 25.0 points per game, trailing only Houston's James Harden (who also grew up in LA) among shooting guards. They offset each other in the last meeting and if that happens again, it's advantage Warriors.

INJURY REPORT

Warriors: G Stephen Curry (R ankle sprain) is listed as probable. F Omri Casspi (back soreness) and F Andre Iguodala (hip flexor strain) are listed as questionable.

Raptors: G Kyle Lowry (bruised tailbone) is listed as questionable.

LAST 10

Warriors: 8-2.

Raptors: 7-3.

GAME OFFICIALS

Tony Brothers, Courtney Kirkland, Gediminas Petraitis

SERIES HISTORY

The Warriors won the first of two meetings this season, 117-112, on Oct. 25 at Oracle Arena. The Warriors swept both games last season, have won seven in a row and 15 of the last 17 meetings.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

THE HOT ZONES: The Warriors have been terrific on the road, the Raptors fabulous at home. Toronto since Nov. 5 has lost only once at Air Canada Centre, by a single point to Miami on Jan 9, and responded with a 34-point rout of the Cavaliers. The Warriors are an NBA-best 18-3 on the road and have won 11 in a row, by an average of 11.5 points.

BALL SECURITY: The Warriors are a high-turnover team (15.8 per game). The Raptors commit fewer turnovers (13.5 per, fourth fewest in the league) and are good at forcing them and making opponents pay. Toronto is averaging a league-best 19.3 points per game off turnovers. If the Warriors are sloppy, it will cost them.

BENCH WARS: The Warriors and Raptors have the most effective benches in the league, ranking 1-2 in net rating. The Warriors are first in offensive rating (111.3), the Raptors (107.9) third. The Raptors are third in defensive rating (100.2), the Warriors (103.0) eighth. Toronto's bench scored 76 points in its last game (vs. Cleveland). Center Jakob Poeltl and forward Pascal Siakam have been impactful.

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