The 2025 NBA season has already been thrilling, with teams like the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors facing off in a highly anticipated matchup. The game, which took place on January 13, 2025, turned out to be an unforgettable spectacle that showcased both the resilience of the Raptors and the grit of the Warriors. Ultimately, Toronto emerged victorious, defeating Golden State in a dramatic finish. What unfolded on the court that night was nothing short of riveting, with thrilling twists, clutch performances, and a late-game surge that sealed the Raptors’ hard-fought victory.
First Half: A Clash of Titans
From the opening tip-off, the game had a high-energy, playoff-like atmosphere. Both teams were coming off strong performances in the previous games of the season, and their intensity was palpable. The Warriors, with their established championship pedigree, came into the contest as favorites, but the Raptors—led by their rising stars and a renewed sense of purpose—were determined to prove they could hang with the best.
The first quarter was marked by back-and-forth scoring as both teams traded blows. The Raptors, known for their versatility and depth, leaned on their dynamic offensive attack. Fred VanVleet, the heart and soul of the team, was running the offense with precision. He was distributing the ball well, finding open shooters and feeding the ball inside to the Raptors’ emerging big men. Pascal Siakam, who had been in excellent form this season, was active on both ends of the floor, scoring efficiently while also contributing defensively with his long wingspan and athleticism.
On the other side, Golden State relied heavily on their lethal shooting guard, Klay Thompson, and the high basketball IQ of Stephen Curry. Despite Curry being known for his insane range, it was Thompson who came out hot in the opening minutes, hitting a series of three-pointers that sent a wave of energy through the Warriors’ side of the arena. Curry, as always, was a constant threat, orchestrating the offense with his patented off-the-ball movement and making pinpoint passes to set up teammates.
Golden State’s ability to shoot from deep seemed to be the difference in the early stages, with Thompson and Curry finding their rhythm. The Warriors were also aggressive in transition, creating easy fast-break opportunities off missed shots or turnovers from the Raptors. Toronto, however, didn’t get discouraged. Siakam’s rebounding and VanVleet’s court vision helped the Raptors stay close, and by the end of the first quarter, the score was tied, 30-30.
In the second quarter, the teams continued their back-and-forth, but Toronto began to show their depth. Their bench players, particularly OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., were stepping up and making crucial plays. Anunoby’s defense was key, as he had the difficult task of guarding Curry and Thompson at various points. While he couldn’t completely neutralize their impact, his length and tenacity forced both shooters into more contested looks than they were accustomed to.
On the Warriors’ side, Draymond Green was proving to be a disruptive force, facilitating the offense and guarding Siakam in the post. His defensive intelligence kept the Raptors from finding any sustained rhythm in the half-court set, and Golden State took a slight lead heading into halftime. The Warriors led 58-55 after two quarters, but the game was far from decided.
The Third Quarter: Golden State’s Strong Surge
Coming out of the locker room after halftime, it was clear that Golden State had regrouped and was ready to push the pace. Thompson continued to hit his shots, and Curry—being the ultimate competitor—was playing with his typical swagger, weaving through screens and draining tough shots. The Raptors seemed to be struggling with the Warriors’ high-octane offense, particularly in the third quarter.
Toronto’s defense, which had been solid in the first half, was now being tested by Golden State’s offensive barrage. The Warriors seemed to find another gear, with Curry getting hot from beyond the arc, pulling up from deep and hitting difficult shots that made the crowd roar. Draymond Green also found success in the post, using his crafty moves to get easy baskets while distributing the ball to open shooters.
However, the Raptors refused to let the game slip away from them. VanVleet, who had been steady throughout the first half, took control in the third quarter. He started to assert himself more, scoring off the dribble and creating open shots for his teammates. Siakam continued his relentless attacking of the rim, drawing fouls and finishing tough layups in traffic. Anunoby’s defense also came to the forefront as he made a key steal and got out on a fast break, finishing with a strong dunk that energized the Raptors’ crowd.
Despite the Warriors’ offensive firepower, Toronto hung around, and the lead kept fluctuating. With less than three minutes to go in the third quarter, the Raptors were down by 8 points, and it seemed as though Golden State might be pulling away. But then, a series of timely plays from Toronto changed the momentum.
Siakam hit a tough mid-range jumper over Green, and then VanVleet drained a three-pointer off a screen. Anunoby, known for his ability to rise to the occasion, added another clutch steal and dunked it on the fast break, bringing the score to 84-82 in favor of the Warriors by the end of the third. The game was extremely close, and fans on both sides could feel the tension mounting.
The Fourth Quarter: Toronto’s Late Surge
As the fourth quarter began, both teams knew that the final 12 minutes would determine the outcome. Golden State came out with their usual championship-level poise, but the Raptors were undeterred, playing with a level of intensity that suggested they weren’t going to back down. With the score still tight and the minutes ticking away, the stage was set for a dramatic finish.
Curry, who had been relatively quiet in the third quarter, exploded early in the fourth, hitting back-to-back threes that put Golden State up by 6 points. Toronto was now faced with an uphill battle, but their response was swift. Siakam made a stunning contested floater, and VanVleet followed that up with an assist to Jakob Poeltl, who finished a tough bucket in the paint to bring the game within 2 points.
As the game neared its final moments, the Raptors found themselves down by 4 with under 3 minutes to play. The tension was palpable, but VanVleet took charge, running the offense and hitting an important three-pointer to tie the game at 113-113. The crowd was on their feet, sensing a potential upset over the Warriors, and the Raptors were feeding off that energy.
With less than a minute remaining, the Warriors found themselves with possession of the ball. Curry attempted a step-back three-pointer to give his team the lead, but the shot was off the mark. It was at that moment that the Raptors’ defense locked in. Anunoby, who had been excellent all night on defense, switched onto Curry and forced him into an off-balance shot. After the miss, VanVleet secured the rebound and pushed the ball up the floor.
With 30 seconds left, the Raptors had a chance to take the lead. VanVleet dribbled to the top of the arc and found Siakam cutting to the basket. Siakam, cool under pressure, finished with a contested layup over Green, putting the Raptors up by 2 points with 18 seconds remaining.
Golden State had one last possession to tie or win the game. The Warriors called a timeout, and with 10 seconds left, Curry took the inbounds pass. As he drove to the basket, he encountered a wall of Raptors defenders, and instead of forcing a shot, Curry dished the ball to Klay Thompson in the corner for a potential game-tying three-pointer. However, Thompson’s shot was just short, and the Raptors grabbed the rebound, sealing the victory.
