The NBA website had a wry way of reporting the glittering triumph of the Toronto Raptors which captured its first NBA championship at the Oracle Arena yesterday:
“The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions, defeating the Golden State Warriors 4-2 in the Finals. The Raptors finished the series off with a 114-110 victory in Game 6, their third within nine days at Oracle Arena.”
The same report said the Raptors had four players—Kyle Lowry (26), Pascal Siakam (26), Kawhi Leonard (22) and Fred VanVleet (22)—score 22 or more points in the clincher.
There was a graver reason behind the Toronto title victory over hobbled Golden State as noted by the New York Times:
“The Toronto Raptors beat two-time defending champion Golden State in Game 6 as it took advantage of a dynasty forced to close out the series without Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.”
Thompson was wholly competitive and sharp, until he fell and injured his left knee in the third quarter. Durant, out of action due to a calf injury for a month, suffered an Achilles tear in the second quarter of Game 5, and had surgery that’s bound to sideline him for the whole of the next season.
Yesterday’s game had the makings of an epic, with the Warriors fighting hard for a win at home that could’ve pushed the series to a 7th game.
There was a tough back-and-forth tussle inside the overflowing Oracle Arena, with the supposed fatigued competitors giving and pouring out their best.
It could easily go down as the most tightly defended confrontation between the two NBA powerhouses in the NBA Finals.
Although hobbled, the Warriors hung on and threatened to prevail in the tretch, until Thompson, already with 30 points, fell hard off a foul. He was escorted to the dugout, but next limped back to shoot his free throws before disappearing for good.
Steph Curry missed a 3-point shot in the waning seconds that could’ve changed the outcome. Leonard was awarded a technical free throw for an illegal time-out by Golden State. Leonard, honored as the championship series MVP, sealed the game with the free shot.
Coach Kerr had hinted they could’ve fallen victim to team wear and tear.
“You can’t sit here and say, well, if this hadn’t happened or that hadn’t happened—that doesn’t matter,” he said. “What matter is Kevin Durant is going to miss next season with his Achilles tear and Klay suffered a knee injury.”
What’s left or in store for Golden State?
Said Curry: “This five-year title run has been awesome but I definitely don’t think it’s over.”
Lie down, bleed a little then rise again.