Raptors roll past Warriors in Game 1 of NBA Finals
TORONTO — No Kevin Durant. Problem.
The Warriors’ air of invincibility got crushed in Canada in the first-ever NBA Finals game north of the border, as the Raptors gritted their way behind Pascal Siakam to a commanding 118-109 Game 1 victory Thursday night at rocking Scotiabank Arena.
Golden State’s Durant-less offense looked as devalued as the Canadian dollar. The Warriors shot 42.8 percent as Stephen Curry came on too late. He finished with a padded 34 points in an 8-of-18, three-turnover outing. Fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson was nearly as bad, bricking it at 8-of-17 pace, and Draymond Green struggled from the field despite a triple-double.
Before Game 1, Curry boastfully stated the Warriors had “an edge’’ rolling into the Finals against a new opponent — likely a reference to not having to deal with LeBron James.
But they had to deal with Siakam, the Cameroon native and the league’s leading candidate for Most Improved Player who took over Game 1, finishing with 32 points. He overshadowed Kawhi Leonard (23 points).
Twenty-four years after the Raptors were founded, they are three wins away from their first NBA title. Before tipoff, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it would be “probably a long series,’’ and he’s looks correct. Game 2 is here Sunday.
The Warriors fell to 31-2 with Durant sidelined and Curry in the lineup. Raptors superfan Drake wore a Dell Curry Raptors jersey to razz the son who once lived in Toronto when his father played here. Durant is out indefinitely with a partially torn calf muscle.
Siakam, killing it in transition, notched 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting in the first three quarters as the Raptors took an 88-81 lead into the final session.
Siakam put the Raps up nine with 8:39 left on a driving banker over a double-team, puncturing Golden State’s comeback spirit. The dynasty from the Bay had fallen behind Portland double-digits three straight games before rallying to win in the Western Conference finals. But they were no longer in the Rose City and faced a thornier foe.
With 5:08 left, Thompson’s frustration boiled over, picking up a loose ball shoving foul and railing at the referee. He pick up a technical foul, and nearly got a second one.
The Raptors, in their first-ever Finals, grabbed a 59-49 lead at halftime, showing no nervousness. First-year coach Nick Nurse’s club held Golden State to 35 percent shooting and forced 10 turnovers in the half.
The atmosphere was electric — “O, Canada’’ never sounding as sweet. The Raptors gathered up seven of their alumni for the milestone night as the fans roared when those former players were introduced. The club even trotted out Charles Oakley, whom the Knicks traded to the Raptors for Marcus Camby 20 years ago.
Toronto staged a 19-8 surge to close the half after Golden State had taken a one-point lead. Toronto had led most of the half until Thompson banged in a 3 for a 41-40 Warriors lead with 5:22 left until intermission.
The Raptors erupted late. Leonard suffered through a slow start but scored on a driving three-point play during the run.
Green, who entered Game 1 on a serious roll, was a non-factor. With 59.9 seconds left in the second quarter, Kyle Lowry drew a charge on Green, giving him three fouls. Long Island’s Danny Green hit a monster, contested corner 3 over Thompson with five seconds left to give Toronto its biggest lead of the half at 12.
To make up for Leonard’s modest half, Siakam and Marc Gasol combined to pump in 26 first-half points. Toronto shot 8-of-19 from 3. Eight of their first nine shots were 3s.
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