Draymond Green lauds Kyle Lowry for career-best performance

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry did everything in his power to stop the unstoppable.

Lowry scored a career-high 41 points on 14-of-26 shooting along with seven assists, and four steals against just one turnover, but the Raptors fell to the mighty Golden State Warriors 112-109 on Saturday.

The Raptors couldn't have asked for more out of their franchise player. Lowry nearly matched Stephen Curry shot-for-shot, and although he couldn't come up with the win, Lowry's performance wasn't lost on Warriors forward Draymond Green.

"That's a great club," Green told Holly MacKenzie of Raptors.com. "We knew coming in here that it wouldn't be easy. Kyle Lowry is the leader of that team and he's tough as nails, you know, never backing down from anyone."

It was certainly an admirable showing from Lowry, who single-handedly carried his team on a night when backcourt partner DeMar DeRozan went a paltry 5-of-19 from the floor.

The lone blemish came on a missed free throw following an and-one. Had the made the shot, Lowry would have tied the game in the final minute.

But to focus on that error would miss the point entirely: The Raptors have played the Warriors better than anybody. Golden State took the season series, but Toronto only lost by a total of eight points, and pushed the Warriors to the very brink both times.

"I knew (Lowry would) have those guys ready to play, which he did, so it's something we expected, but I think it was definitely, probably the closest one," Green added.