2019 NBA Finals Game 5: Warriors win, return home as series continues
Updated 13:52, 11-Jun-2019
Li Xiang
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The Golden State Warriors claimed a precious victory over the Toronto Raptors 106-105 in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals at the Scotiabank Arena on Monday, delaying the celebration party of the home team for another three days.
Kevin Durant was back on the court after a calf strain but only played for 11 minutes before being forced to quit again due to his injury. Stephen Curry dropped the Golden State's highest 31 points while burying five 3-pointers.
Game 6 will take place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland on Thursday.

Steve Kerr: An incredible win and a horrible loss

Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors suffers an Achilles injury in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors suffers an Achilles injury in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Warriors fans' happiness for Durant's return only lasted 11 minutes before he sat on the ground with his hands on his right calf, exactly where he got hurt a month ago. Durant went back to the locker room with the help of two people and when he appeared on camera again, he was using a pair of crutches and wearing a walking boot. Bob Myers, president of basketball operations of the team, confirmed that Durant suffered an Achilles injury at the post-game press conference.
Before he left, Durant scored 11 points, two rebounds and one block, making three of his five shots including three 3-pointers. If we may recall, the Warriors lost by 9, 14 and 13 points respectively in Game 1, Game 3 and Game 4 – without Durant, the team would have probably lost Game 5 too.
Kevon Looney (C) of the Golden State Warriors competes for a rebound in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Kevon Looney (C) of the Golden State Warriors competes for a rebound in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Durant was not the only player Golden State lost on Monday. Kevon Looney, who began to play while bearing a chest injury in Game 4, saw his problem get worse and had to quit Game 5 after playing 17 minutes. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Looney will miss the rest of the Finals.
However, the Warriors won to pull the series to Game 6 at their home court – taking one step back from the edge of the cliff. Sinking 20 3-pointers and delivering in total 27 assists were both signs that the defending champions were gradually finding their game back. They could not afford to fall into the slow, physical defense contest with the Raptors. Speeding up and trying to outscore the opponent is the only option for the Warriors if they want to create a miracle.
Stephen Curry #30 and Klay Ghompson 311 of the Golden State Warriors shoot 3-pointers in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Stephen Curry #30 and Klay Ghompson 311 of the Golden State Warriors shoot 3-pointers in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Curry and Klay Thompson again saved the day by making 12 shots together from downtown. Though Toronto's defense lowered their 3-point rate from the 54.5 percent (6/11) in the first half to 37.5 percent (6/16) in the second half, the Splash Brothers managed to make all those valuable 3-pointers in the last three minutes, helping Golden State come back from trailing by six (103-97) to leading by three (106-103).
More importantly, Curry and Thompson had help this time. Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook together buried five 3-pointers, which was not much but good enough to make Toronto pay for leaving them open. Cousins again became a surprise with 14 points, seven of which happened in the 90 seconds following his introduction on the court.

Raptors are one ball from championship

Kawhi Leonard (R) and Kyle Lowry (L) of the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Kawhi Leonard (R) and Kyle Lowry (L) of the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Toronto came close enough to putting an end to the series. When Kawhi Leonard scored 10 straight points by making two 3-pointer and two perimeter shots in the fourth quarter, Golden State seemed to be falling apart, just like they did in the past two games. Leonard again proved with his performance that he's unstoppable in front of Golden State's defense, as long as he turns on his offensive mode.
Kyle Lowry was the other major contributor to Raptors' game. He had 18 points, four rebounds, six assists and led the team to launch a 21-9 run in the fourth quarter. Though Lowry missed the game-winning 3-pointer in the end, he left a baffling question for the Warriors: should they continue to use Cousins? In all the four mismatch possessions when Lowry confronted Cousins, the Raptors point-guard scored eight points.
Pascal Siakam #43 and Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors participate in offense in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Pascal Siakam #43 and Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors participate in offense in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at the Scotiabank Arena, June 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Of course coach Nick Nurse still has much work to do. For example, his team only made eight 3-pointers in Monday's game but watched Golden State sink 20. In defense, part of their magical touch was gone as Pascal Siakam missed nine of his 15 attempts and Danny Green missed all four 3-pointers.
Defense has been Toronto's advantage but they failed to find solution a to one problem in the series: how to defend the off-ball plays of Curry and Thompson? Thanks to their bigger size, Toronto did so well in double teaming the ball handler, help defense and stopping ball movement. Nonetheless, such advantages also slowed them down when Curry and Thompson kept moving through screens to find open shots.
The score of the series is still 3-2. The Raptors as the leading side are still in a better situation. As for the Warriors, though they will be playing at home next time, they cannot afford to be any more careless.