By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Golden State Warriors don’t seem ready to go full force anytime soon in the 2019 NBA Finals, but beat the Toronto Raptors, 109-104, on Sunday. They tied the best-of-seven series, 1-1.
Klay Thompson poured a team-high 25 points at the Scotiabank Arena despite leaving early due to a left hamstring injury. He will have an MRI on Monday, but is expected to play in Game 3.
Kevon Looney (collarbone) exited Game 2 as well and Kevin Durant (right calf) remained sidelined. Andre Iguodala was slow to get up after a hard fall in the first half, but eventually scored a clutch triple with 5.9 seconds left.
Stephen Curry overcame a rocky start to finish with 23 points. Draymond Green had 17 points, ten boards and nine assists. DeMarcus Cousins started and ended up with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. Swede Jonas Jerebko helped out with two points and two boards in six minutes from the bench.
For the losing side, Kawhi Leonard went off for a game-high 34 points. However, his team played the chaser following the sluggish start to the second half and the late 10-0 run just got the hosts to 106-104 before Iguodala’s clutch three-pointer.
Serge Ibaka had seven points, 10 boards and two steals in 16 minutes of action. Fellow Spaniard Marc Gasol started once again for six points, six rebounds, two helpers and one rejection in 31 minutes. OG Anunoby (appendectomy) was active for the first time in the 2019 NBA Playoffs, but didn’t get on the court.
Oracle Arena will host Game 3 and Game 4 set to take place on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. The Finals will return to Canada for Game 5 on June 10th. If necessary, Game 6 will be played on June 13th at California and Game 7 on June 16th at Toronto.