Steph Curry Returns for Finals Rematch With Raptors; Warriors Getting 8 Points at Home

• Two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry returns for the Golden State Warriors’ clash with the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night at Chase Center in San Francisco 
• The teams meet for the first time since Game 6 of last season’s NBA Finals, won by the Raptors at the Oracle Arena in Oakland
• See the odds, spread and best bet for tonight’s game below 

Chase Center hosts the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors on Thursday, March 5th, as Steph Curry returns to an NBA court for the first time since the fourth game of the campaign when he suffered a broken hand.

Despite the Warriors being bolstered Curry, they are 8.5-point underdogs in the latest Toronto Raptors vs Golden State Warriors odds. Golden State has the worst record in the NBA, but they have won two of their last three.

Toronto Raptors vs Golden State Warriors Odds

Odds taken Mar. 5th

Return to Normality

The Raptors set a franchise record win streak before the All-Star break. A loss to the Brooklyn Nets just before the week off ended the run, and since then the Raps have returned to something resembling NBA normality.

They are 3-4 over their last seven, going back to the loss against the Nets. They had suffered three losses on the bounce prior to Tuesday’s win over the Phoenix Suns.

Once again, they are playing under-manned. Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka all sat out the triumph over the Suns, and the trio are all questionable for Thursday’s game in the Bay Area. They have done superbly considering the injuries they have suffered, but so frequently playing without key players might be catching up with them as the minutes rack up.

📸 • 03/03/20 • h̶o̶m̶e̶ road win pic.twitter.com/Z2WzZFMSDU

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 4, 2020

Lowry, VanVleet and Pascal Siakam all rank in the top 11 in the NBA in minutes per game. It’s no surprise to see fatigue creep into their games.

How Will Wiggins Fair Alongside Curry

It’s been much of the same from Andrew Wiggins since arriving in the trade that sent D’Angelo Russell to the Timberwolves. Wiggins has a marginally better effective field goal percentage, he’s turning the ball over at a similar frequency and he’s rebounding at the same sort of rate. There’s a handy improvement in his assist and steal rates, however, which is exactly what the Warriors will be looking for.

The upside of Wiggins on the Warriors revolves around his fit with Curry and Klay Thompson. He has started just three games alongside Draymond Green so far, who is questionable once again for the visit of the defending champions.

Conclusions will be drawn about Wiggins from Thursday’s game, but it’s really about a learning process for him, and figuring out his role alongside the greatest shooter in NBA history. The spacing will immediately prove, opening up driving lanes and Wiggins will ultimately get more open looks from the perimeter.

Wiggins has passed 20 points in five of his nine Warriors games – he will fancy his chances of doing so again, even against an elite Raptors defense.

Expect a High-Scoring Game

The Warriors aren’t going to be overly pushing Curry, but he will be desperate to get back on the court after missing the majority of the season. Able to relax and keen to put on a show, the two-time MVP is going to take a lot of shots on Thursday. It could be one of those monster nights.

Steph Curry is finally BACK! 💦

Splash bro makes his return from injury tonight on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/3RPtzNZZVe

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 5, 2020

The excitement surrounding Curry’s return and a Finals rematch has given this game relevance. It’s impossible to know what the Warriors will look like, and it may take time for Wiggins to adjust to playing with Curry.

Golden State have improved defensively since the break, but this Raptors offense has plenty of talent to head towards the 120’s and perhaps beyond, particularly if Green sits out. It all points towards a high-scoring game.

Pick: Over 224 total points (-115)