Warriors Even 2019 NBA Finals with 109-104 Game 2 Victory over Raptors

2019 NBA Finals
Stephen Curry defended by Kyle Lowry (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

The Golden State Warriors were able to capitalize on some crucial missteps from the Toronto Raptors to even up the 2019 NBA Finals. After a Game 1 offensive explosion by Pascal Siakam led to the Raptors opening the series with a 1-0 lead, the Warriors overcame the continued absence of Kevin Durant, as well as losing Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney to injury during the game to score a 109-104 victory, capped off by Andre Iguodala’s game-clinching three-pointer.

The Raptors Can Only Blame Themselves

The Raptors sank their own chances of winning this one. Kawhi Leonard contributed 34 points and 14 rebounds and Fred VanVleet continued his postseason turnaround with 17 points and 3 steals, but neither performance could save their team from their 37% field goal percentage performance, converting on only 29% of their three-point opportunities. Not numbers that are going to beat the defending champions, even with the sort of depleted roster the Warriors are working with. Pascal Siakam only added 12 points to the Raptors tally on an unremarkable 5 made field goals in 18 attempts (including one incredible alley-oop catch). Marc Gasol went 2-7 for 6 points and Kyle Lowry went 4-11 prior to fouling out. That’s not going to get it done.

The most startling, real-time illustration of how poorly the Raptors played in Game 2 was the 18-0 stretch the Warriors put on them to begin the second half, a team-wide collapse which featured six turnovers by the Raptors, more than enough to erase the 59-54 lead the Raptors held going into halftime. Toronto was never able to overcome that onslaught despite multiple stretches which fueled comeback hopes. Yet, the Raptors never got it together and now head to Oakland 1-1. If the Raptors want to return to their winning ways as they head on the road, Kawhi Leonard absolutely must have his supporting cast show up for him in the way they did in Game 1.

More Injuries for Golden State, But a Win Nonetheless

Kevon Looney went down early in Game 2 with a chest contusion and Klay Thompson exited in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, adding to the injuries that have already affected Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala this postseason. The Warriors were able to pull this one out behind Klay Thompson’s 25 points before he left, Stephen Curry’s 23 points while he was apparently under the weather, and a near triple-double performance for Draymond Green who came away with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. DeMarcus Cousins also stepped up big for Golden State in his first career NBA Finals start recording 11 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes.

Regardless of how depleted the roster was by the end of the game, Andre Iguodala was able to seal the deal for the Warriors late, being left wide open for the game-clinching three in another gaffe for the Raptors, and one that Curry called “disrespectful”. The Warriors must now try to sustain this momentum and pull together their remaining able-bodied players and attempt to defend their home court as the series heads to Oracle Arena for Games 3 and 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

Now we wait to see the severity of the injuries to both Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney, the status of Kevin Durant and whether or not the Toronto Raptors can return to their winning ways as Game 3 of the 2019 NBA Finals tips-off Wednesday, June 5th at 9 PM ET on ABC from Oracle Arena.

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NBA and NFL Writer for Def Pen. Loves the Spurs, Chargers, Manchester United, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.

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