Warriors’ three-peat bid still alive but Durant out again

TORONTO, Canada (UPDATED) – Steph Curry and Klay Thompson knocked in clutch three-pointers as the Golden State Warriors foiled the Toronto Raptors’ bid to wrap up the series and celebrate their first title with a 106-105 escape in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the Scotiabank Arena  in Toronto on Monday, June 10 (Tuesday, June 11, Philippine time). 

The Warriors unleashed a 9-0 run – a pair of Thompson triples sandwiching a Curry trey – to stay alive after the Raptors rallied from 14 points down and looked headed to close out the series and capture the franchise’s first crown.

Curry unleashed 31 points and Thompson added 26 as the defending champion Warriors pulled within 3-2 in the best-of-seven Finals series and forced Game 6 in Oakland on Thursday, June 13 (Friday, June 14, Philippine time).

“Do or die,” Curry said. “It wasn’t pretty in the second half but we just made the shots.”

The Warriors refused to fold even as Kevin Durant left the game with still over 9 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter after appearing to have re-injured the same right calf injury that had sidelined him for a month. He’s scheduled for an MRI tomorrow. (READ: Durant’s return for Warriors in NBA Finals was a short one)

The @warriors outlast Toronto in a fantastic finish to Game 5 of the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV! #StrengthInNumbers

Game 6: Thursday (6/13), 9pm/et, ABC & TSN pic.twitter.com/R2FS6ma8qu

— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2019

Kawhi Leonard, who led Toronto with 26 points, sank back-to-back three-pointers and a jumper to give the Raptors their largest lead at 103-97 with 3:28 remaining.

But the Warriors answered with Thompson and Curry sinking three-pointers and Thompson hitting another to put Golden State ahead to stay at 106-103 with 57 seconds to play.

Kyle Lowry cut the lead to the final margin with 30 seconds remaining and the Warriors made a final turnover when DeMarcus Cousins was whistled for a foul while trying to set a screen.

That gave Toronto a last chance but the Warriors double-teamed Leonard and Lowry missed a corner three-point shot at the buzzer.  – Rappler.com