Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Friday 7 June 2019
Raptors hit big shots, beat Warriors for 2-1 NBA Finals lead

By JANIE McCAULEY quarter points matched his
AP Sports Writer most in the period for the
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — For postseason. He also did so
every amazing shot in a ca- on April 27, 2014, against
reer night by Stephen Curry the Clippers. ... In the first
on his home court, Kawhi half, Curry was 4 of 8 from
Leonard, Kyle Lowry and 3-point range the rest of
Danny Green kept finding the Warriors 1 for 11. ...
dazzling answers of their Draymond Green's streak
own. of double-doubles ended
The Toronto Raptors de- at a career-best six games
cided to "let it rip," and now after he had 17 points and
they have the momentum seven rebounds. A 12th
again in these back-and- would match Denver's
forth NBA Finals. Nikola Jokic for most in the
Leonard scored 30 points 2019 playoffs. ... Tim Hard-
on a night Curry went off for away from the Warriors'
a playoff-best 47, and the "Run TMC" era attended
Raptors beat the banged- the game.
up Golden State Warriors WARRIORS INJURIES
123-109 on Wednesday for Durant went through ex-
a 2-1 series lead. tensive workouts both Tues-
Curry also had eight re- day and Wednesday at the
bounds and seven assists practice facility with the
but couldn't do it all for the hope he would do some
two-time defending cham- scrimmaging Thursday.
pions, down starters Kevin While the Warriors aren't
Durant and Klay Thompson scheduled for a regular
and key backup big man practice, Kerr said some of
Kevon Looney because of the coaches and younger
injuries. players might be called
"They outplayed us. They upon to give Durant the
deserved it," Warriors full-speed court work he still
coach Steve Kerr said. "I'm needs before being medi-
very proud of our effort, cally cleared to return.
and now we've just got to He missed his eighth straight
bounce back and hope- game since the injury May
fully get back in here Friday 8 in Game 5 of the West-
night and hopefully get Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) defends against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry ern Conference semifinals
a little healthier and get during the first half of Game 3 of basketball s NBA Finals, Wednesday, June 5, 2019, in Oakland, against the Rockets.
some guys back." Calif. Thompson was hurt in
Splash Brother Thompson Associated Press Game 2 and was to be
missed his first career play- evaluated by the training
off game after straining his lot of runs," Raptors coach their way," Curry said. "You us." staff before tipoff. He didn't
left hamstring late in Game Nick Nurse said. "Each time have to tip your cap to all Curry shot 14 for 31 includ- end up warming up on the
2, while Looney is out the they chipped, we kind of the guys who made pivotal ing 6 of 14 on 3s while mak- court.
rest of the series after a car- answered back. And that's plays in the right times." ing 13 of 14 free throws in DeMarcus Cousins went to
tilage fracture on his right kind of what you got to do Golden State greatly his sixth career 40-point the locker room late in the
side near the collarbone if you're going to keep your missed not only Thompson's playoff performance. game to be checked but
that also happened Sun- lead." touch from outside but also Nurse pulled out a box- Kerr expects him to be fine.
day. Durant, a two-time The Warriors trailed 96-83 his stifling defense. and-one to try to stymie ORACLE OVERDUE
reigning NBA Finals MVP, going into the final quarter. Nurse challenged his team Curry in Golden State's 109- The home fans waited 20
has been sidelined nearly Curry's three free throws to produce more defensive 104 Game 2 win, then the days between home play-
a month because of a at 10:37 made it a seven- stops in order to get out in Raptors made Curry's short- off games after the Western
strained right calf. point game before back- transition — "make them handed supporting cast try Conference finals sweep
Game 4 is Friday at Oracle to-back baskets by Serge miss more," he said. to beat them this time — of Portland before Golden
Arena, where Warriors fans Ibaka. The Raptors re-watched and it sure worked. State opened the finals in
will be rooting for the re- Siakam scored 18 points the costly 18-0 run by Gold- TIP-INS Toronto.
turns of Durant and Thomp- and established the mo- en State in Game 2, then Raptors: All five Toronto It had been since Game 2
son. mentum for Toronto from got six blocked shots from starters scored in double against the Trail Blazers on
Before the game, one of the tip, hitting his first three Ibaka. digits and Fred VanVleet May 16 that the Warriors
the Raptors wrote "let it rip" shots and setting a tone "We know that they're go- added 11 off the bench. hosted — the second-lon-
on the locker room board. for a defensive effort that ing to make good runs ... The Raptors began 10 gest lapse between home
Lowry contributed 23 with stayed solid without the and make shots but we for 14 and scored 12 early games since the current 16-
five 3-pointers and Green foul problems that plagued watched that third quarter points in the paint. .. Former game, four-round format
had 18 points with six 3s af- the Raptors in Game 2. in Game 2 and we've just Warriors G Patrick McCaw, was established in 1983.
ter Pascal Siakam got the "Every time we made a run got to continue to play with who departed after last The Warriors hosted a
Raptors rolling early. Toron- or got the crowd into it they pace," Lowry said. season in contract dispute, Game 3 in the finals for the
to shot 52.4% and made 17 either made a tough 3 or "That was the one thing drew boos from the crowd first time since winning the
from deep. there was a tough foul call about it, we played with when he checked into the 1975 title, having begun at
"I give our guys a lot of cred- and they slowed the tempo pace, half-court, full-court, game late in the first. home in each of the previ-
it. I thought we answered a down or something went and that was a big thing for Warriors: Curry's 17 first- ous four.q