Golden State Warriors escaped the death in Canada in the final three minutes of the Game 5 against the Raptors. Eventually, they won 106-105 and forced a game in their Oracle Arena which will take place this Thursday.
They were down six points with somewhat less than three and a half minutes, but three straight threes from Klay Thompson (two) and Steph Curry (one) put them ahead. The Raptors had the final attack, and Kyle Lowry missed what was supposed to be a championship-winning three from the left corner.
That is Draymond Green slightly touched the ball and diverted its patch, preventing the Raptors guard from becoming the hero.
The Warriors were up 14 points at the halftime and held everything in their hands, but after Kevin Durant’s injury things became very tough for Steve Kerr’s boys. KD injured his Achilles and will for sure miss the rest of the series.
After that came a period of play in which Toronto dominated, and especially Kawhi who was almost unstoppable in the fourth period. If it weren’t for the excellent three-point shooting of the guests, they would surely lose this event. GSW dropped 20 downtown bombs in 42 attempts.
Steph had 31 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Thompson was shooting threes 7 for 13 and added 26 points to his account, while Draymond Green was near a triple-double again, with 10 points and boards each, and 8 assists.
Among the Raptors, Kawhi closed the night with 26 points, 12 boards and 6 assists. Lowry had 18 points, Serge Ibaka 15, Marc Gasol 17.
But what was notable is the awful three-point percentage, 8 for 32. The Raptors were totally out of the rhythm.
Game 6 is this Thursday in Oakland. It is going to be the last game of the Warriors at the Oracle Arena, as they move to Chase Arena at the end of the season.
