Posted on June 3, 2019, by Travis Pulver
The Toronto Raptors had a chance to do something that has been unheard of the last five years— put the Golden State Warriors in a 0-2 hole in the NBA Finals. With no Kevin Durant and with Klay Thompson going down with an injury as well, they had a shot to do it.
However, they just couldn’t overcome the championship pedigree of the Warriors.
“I think that when you get to this stage, our DNA shows up,” Steph Curry said after the game, via ESPN.
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The game started off well enough for both teams as they traded the lead back and forth in the first quarter, but in the end, it was Toronto that led after one, 27-26. But a 12-2 run by the Raptors to start the quarter gave Toronto a nine-point edge with over seven minutes to go until halftime.
Toronto was able to stretch the lead out to 12 before Steph Curry, who had left the game earlier after missing his first six shots, returned to score 12 for the Warriors to reduce Toronto’s lead to five, 59-54, at the half.
Things were looking good for the Raptors—but then it happened. The Warriors started the third quarter on a tear with an 18-0 that put them up, 72-59, roughly halfway through the third. However, Toronto was able to battle back and cut into the lead. But they were still down by eight heading into the fourth.
The Warriors extended their lead out to 12 with 5:39 left to go in the game, but then the Toronto defense locked everyone down. However, the Raptors held Golden State scoreless for the next 5:32 of game time; enough time for Toronto to cut the gap down to two, 106-104.
But then Andre Iguodala hits a three-pointer with seven seconds left to ice the game and make the final 109-104, Warriors.
“Third quarter we didn’t play well enough. We missed too many shots,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “They got out in transition and got a little confidence going. We lost the game there.”
Klay Thompson led the way for the Warriors with 25 points despite missing the fourth quarter due to an injury; his status for Game Three remains to be seen. Steph Curry chipped in 23 even though he was shutout in the fourth quarter, and Draymond Green got within an assist of another triple double with 17 points, ten rebounds, and nine assists.
Even though he didn’t look great in Game One, DeMarcus Cousins got the start in Game Two. He ended up logging 28 minutes and recorded a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Raptors despite having a poor night from the floor. He was 8-20 and just 2-9 from three-point range. But since he also went 16-16 at the foul line, he scored 34. Unlike the last five games for the Raptors, he didn’t get a ton of help from his friends. Fred VanVleet had 17 off the bench followed by Kyle Lowry with 13 and Pascal Siakam with 12.
The series now moves to Oakland for Game Three on Wednesday, but it remains to be seen what the Warriors are going to have to work with. Rumor had it that Kevin Durant could be ready to go by Game Three (but that Game Four was more likely). Klay Thompson is now battling a hamstring issue, Andre Iguodala continues to get banged up, and Kevin Looney was lost for the second half Sunday with a back issue.
But despite all of the injuries, the opening line has the Warriors a 5.5-point favorite to win Game Three. But don’t be surprised if that gets lower as injury news comes to light.