Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (R) drives to the basket past Toronto Raptors centre Bismack Biyombo in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

DPA/Los Angeles


Curry scored 44 points Saturday night to offset a career-high 41 by Lowry as the Warriors fought off the host Toronto Raptors, 112-109, to remain unbeaten this season.  
Klay Thompson scored a season-high 26 points for defending NBA champion Golden State (21-0), which has won 25 in a row dating to last season. The game came down to the final possession and matched the Warriors’ smallest victory margin of the season. “Every night it’s a new battle, it’s a new challenge and we’ve answered it so far,” said Curry, who drained nine three-pointers in his seventh 40-point game of the season.  
“That’s a great NBA win right there,” Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said. “That Toronto team is a very talented team and they were playing at a high level today.”  
None moreso than Lowry. He made 14-of-26 shots - including 6-of-10 from the arc - and added seven assists and four steals as he dueled Curry down the stretch.  “It’s tough,” Lowry said. “We were right there, but at the end of the day they still won.” Golden State held a 59-49 halftime lead, but Lowry led the Raptors back, scoring 13 points in the third period and a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and cut the deficit to 83-82.  
A three-pointer by Curry gave Golden State a 102-100 edge, and he added two foul shots for a 106-103 advantage with 58 seconds remaining. Lowry made a driving layup as he was fouled but missed the ensuing free throw that could have tied the game.  
Curry and Thompson combined to make six free throws in the last 18 seconds. The Raptors had a final chance to tie it, but Cory Joseph committed a turnover.  If the Warriors win their next two games at Brooklyn on Sunday and at Indiana on Tuesday, they will tie the 2012-13 Miami Heat for the second-longest streak in NBA history. The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers won a record 33 straight games.  
“We’ve been able to separate each one individually and figure out different ways to win,” Curry said. “It’s been fun. I think everyone is staying in the moment. We might not play our best game but we find a different way to win.”  
Draymond Green had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors, who made 16-of-30 from the arc. DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points and Brazil’s Lucas Noguiera added 14 for the Raptors, who nearly won at Golden State on November 15, dropping a 115-110 decision.  
Elsewhere:  Utah Jazz 122, Indiana Pacers 119 (OT): Derrick Favors scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Jazz to offset Paul George’s career-high 48 points for the Pacers, who completed a 2-2 road trip.  
San Antonio Spurs 108, Boston Celtics 105: LaMarcus Aldridge led a balanced attack with 17 points as the Spurs improved to 11-0 at home.  
Miami Heat 99, Cleveland Cavaliers 84: Dwyane Wade scored 19 points for the host Heat, who took advantage of the Cavaliers resting superstar LeBron James in their third straight loss.  
Los Angeles Clippers 103, Orlando Magic 101: Jamal Crawford scored 32 points for the host Clippers, who ended the Magic’s five-game winning streak.  
Charlotte Hornets 102, Chicago Bulls 96: France’s Nicolas Batum scored 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the visiting Hornets won for the sixth time in eight games.  
Houston Rockets 120, Sacramento Kings 113: James Harden totaled 31 points and nine assists for the host Rockets, who have won three in a row.  
Portland Trail Blazers 109, Minnesota Timberwolves 103: Damian Lillard collected 19 points and seven assists for the visiting Trail Blazers.  
Milwaukee Bucks 106, New York Knicks 91: Greg Monroe had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the host Bucks, who had dropped five of six.  
Denver Nuggets 108, Philadelphia 76ers 105: Italy’s Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points for the visiting Nuggets, who have won two in a row following an eight-game slide.