By Daily Sports on June 9, 2019

Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points as the Toronto Raptors beat defending champions the Golden State Warriors 105-92, leaving them one win away from their first NBA championship.

A sensational second half from the Raptors gives them a 3-1 series lead.

The only team to overcome the same deficit in the Finals were the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat the Warriors in 2016.

Game five of the best-of-seven series is in Toronto on Monday.

The Raptors are now on the brink of history, aiming for their first title in the franchise's 24-season history, while the Warriors are looking to claim their third consecutive title and fourth in the past five seasons.

“[We have] Just [got to] be patient, come in focused and ready to play defence and make some shots,” Leonard, who added 12 rebounds, two assists and four steals to his 36 points, said. “As long as we win, I'm satisfied.”

Serge Ibaka came off the bench to score 20 points and Pascal Siakam added 19 for the Raptors.

“Kawhi’s two big threes to start the half really, I thought, changed the whole feel for everybody,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.

“I just thought everybody was like, ‘OK, we know we are here, let's go’. And we just kind of kept going from those two threes.”

The Warriors led 46-42 going into half-time, but the visitors dominated in the third quarter to outscore the back-to-back defending champions 37-21, with Steve Kerr’s side missing seven free throws and making less than 30% of their three-point attempts on the night.

After a play-off career-high 47 points in game three, Warriors guard Stephen Curry struggled on Friday, shooting nine out of 22 from the field and making just two of his nine three-point attempts. (BBC)

•Photo shows Toronto Raptors players 

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 9, 2019

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