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The Golden State Warriors dropped Game 1 on the road to the Toronto Raptors, 118-109. Pascal Siakam had the GAME OF HIS LIFE, scoring 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points, while Marc Gasol dropped 20 of his own.
Steph Curry led the Warriors with 34 points and Klay Thompson added 21 points of his own. Draymond Green had a 10-10-10 triple double but shot 2-of-9 from the field and had trouble on both ends against the feisty Siakim.
Andre Iguodala came up limping late in the fourth quarter after a jumpshot, favoring his left leg. We’ll monitor his status going forward.
First Half
The Warriors strategy of walling off Leonard from clean looks at the paint was effective in slowing “The Klaw” down. He shot 2-of-7 from the field in the first half, with three fouls and a turnover.
Shaun Livingston with the block!!! #raptors #warriors pic.twitter.com/JGBPHW1LV5
— Ample Scope (@amplescopesport) May 31, 2019
However, his slow start was compensated by Marc Gasol’s 14 points and Pascal Siakim’s 12 after two quarters.
Siakam has impressed in this first half after struggling to shoot the ball against Milwaukee. Lowry collapses the defense and kicks it out for an open 3. pic.twitter.com/EblAkcamlU
— Richie (@RichieRandall) May 31, 2019
I mean I get saying “make the other guys beat you” but damn you can’t leave Gasol and Siakam WIDE WIDE open
— Kevin (@KevinCassil) May 31, 2019
The Splash Bros were a combined 7-of-22 from the field, as the Raptors harrassed them around every screen. The Dubs further compounded the poor shooting from their two stars with 10 turnovers. DeMarcus Cousins was rusty in his return to the court, but showed glimpses of being a force on the block.
Boogie Report 2.
— Eric Apricot (@EricApricot) May 31, 2019
Boogie with deep post position, 2 FTS.
Gets roasted in PNR. (Drop and over coverage)
Boogie with great find of Jerebko who followes an airball with a swish 3.
Gets roasted in PNR.
Boogie with ugly 3 miss.
Gets roasted in PNR -- NO, STEAL, 3 PT PLAY
At the half: Raptors 59. Warriors 49
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) May 31, 2019
Observations:
-Raptors D dictating. Nothing easy for GSW, esp in half court
-TOR spreading out GSW to get good looks
-Draymond and Kawhi 3 fouls each. Could have an effect
-Cousins looks OK. 4 minutes, 2 points.
Raptors lead by 10 at the half which means the entire city of Portland has turned off their TVs, and accepted a 1-0 series lead for Golden State
— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) May 31, 2019
Raptors 59, Warriors 49
Siakam exploded in the 3rd quarter. He and Leonard combined for 24 of Toronto’s 29 points in the third frame.
Pascal Siakam has made his last nine shots
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) May 31, 2019
Of course, the quarter wouldn’t be complete without former Warrior Patrick McCaw drilling a buzzer beating triple.
McCaw looking for some rev3nge pic.twitter.com/7ogEZYoxv5
— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) May 31, 2019
The Warriors faced an 88-81 deficit heading into the final period.
The champs motion offense was thwarted as the Raptors heavily trapped Curry and dared Draymond Green and rotational players to make plays. With the ball out of Curry’s hands, many Dubs possessions melted into bricked jumpers and wild shots at the rim that wouldn’t fall.
The Raptors held the Warriors at bay, imposing their physicality down the stretch as the bewildered champs continuously barked at the referees. It was clear that the Raptors defensive aggression and length was predicated on giving no daylight to the Splash Bros outside the arc.
The first NBA Finals win in Canadian history is in the books, and the Dubs now trail 0-1. Let’s talk about it in the comments!