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The Toronto Raptors are your new NBA champions after overcoming the Golden State Warriors 114-110. The Warriors were unable to overcome the loss of Klay Thompson, who fell to injury in the third quarter. This was the final game in Oracle Arena, and it was a heckuva war.
Congratulations to the new champions, they did what they had to do to take the title.
The Warriors sorely missed Thompson in the fourth quarter, as he led the team in scoring with 30 points in three quarters. Andre Iguodala scored 22 points, and Stephen Curry finished the year with a 21-point performance.
The new champions had four players who scored at least 20 points: Pascal Siakim and Kyle Lowry both scored 26, while Kawhi Leonard and Fred Van Vleet added 22 points.
The Warriors will spend a summer wondering what could have happened if Thompson and Kevin Durant were available. But the Raptors will be bringing the title to Canada for the first time in NBA history.
Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP, and deservedly so.
First Half
The Oakland faithful recognized the importance of the moment early and they were rocking in Oracle. Unfortunately for the Dubs, so was Kyle Lowry.
Kyle Lowry has scored the Raptors' first 11 points pic.twitter.com/18LIALxZFV
— ESPN (@espn) June 14, 2019
Lowry finished with 21 points by halftime, shooting a scorching 7-of-10 from the field. He was aggressive and feasted on the pick-and-roll situations.
Kyle Lowry was in complete control of that half
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) June 14, 2019
Fortunately, the Warriors caught a special first half performance from “Game 6 Klay Thompson”, as he ripped off 18 points after two quarters.
Game 6 Klay everybody
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) June 14, 2019
pic.twitter.com/8adQj47bje
Golden State only made 4-of-12 three-pointers in the first half, while the Raptors drilled 9-of-18. Pascal Siakim and Lowry combined for 7-of-10 from beyond the arc early on, something I was honestly SHOCKED by.
Raptors 60, Warriors 57
Second Half
The two teams traded blows back and forth in the third quarter, until Klay Thompson went down while being fouled on a dunk attempt by Danny Green.
Klay Thompson takes a fall and he was on the ground in some serious pain pic.twitter.com/mw0HpOOq5y
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) June 14, 2019
Thompson writhed in pain on the floor and was helped to the back. But he mustered up enough strength to walk back on the floor and nail two free throws.
END OF Q3: Warriors up 88-86 Will be fascinating to see whether Klay Thompson starts the fourth. Will be tough for the Warriors to pull this out without him.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) June 14, 2019
The fourth quarter was...insane. Both teams went at it with bodies flying everywhere, and Fred Van Vleet drilled what seemed to be big shot after big shot.
Fred VanVleet steps into the triple before the shot-clock expires!#WeTheNorth 91#StrengthInNumbers 91
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2019
8:53 remaining on ABC & TSN pic.twitter.com/Atx59v3zYH
The Warriors trailed by 1 with 9.6 seconds left. Curry got a decent look at a three, but it hit iron. That effectively ended the game, as the Warriors got the loose rebound but called timeout. A Chris Webber moment indeed, as it led to a technical foul.
And there you have it. Your battered, hobbled Warriors clawed and fought to the last second, but were overwhelmed in the final seconds by an unrelenting Raptors squad.
This has been a heckuva season, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team for battling to the last second. I can’t wait to chat with Raptors HQ and give ‘em the proper congratulations. Good night Oracle, and good night Dub Nation.