The Toronto Raptors are in a spot that most people did not think they would be in. Toronto leads Golden State three games to one in the NBA Finals. The series heads back to Toronto, and the Raptors have a shot to put away the defending champions. With the Warriors having some injuries, the Raptors have taken full advantage.
Kevin Durant is questionable for Game 5 but still looks unlikely to play. The Warriors have missed him a great deal, and the Raptors have taken advantage. Klay Thompson also has not been healthy, which has helped the Raptors out because he is a three-point specialist and a very good defender. Toronto is looking to clinch the first championship in team history on Monday night. The Raptors are favored by 1.5 points.
Toronto Seeks First Title
The Raptors are in uncharted territory. They are hoping to pull something off that few teams thought possible. Even without LeBron James in the Finals for the first time in eight years, most people thought that the Warriors would win again. A lot of people even thought that it wouldn’t be Toronto in the Finals. But Kawhi Leonard has put the team on his back and has them in a great spot to win the championship.
The Raptors’ bench has been performing well and providing a spark all series long. You can tell that the Raptors are treating this like a business trip, not just another series. If the Raptors win the championship, it would be monumental for their team and would be a great instrument in getting Leonard to stay and not leave as a free agent.
Warriors Need to Win Three
The Warriors were in a similar spot a few years ago but were on the other end of a 3-1 lead in the Finals. The Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship in 2016, and the Warriors are hoping that they can turn the tables and do the same. The Warriors have the talent to be able to do it, but with Durant being out, it will be tough. Durant is a critical piece to the puzzle in the Warriors’ run.
Stephen Curry has shown that he can lead this team and win games by himself, but against a team as good as Toronto, it will be hard. The Warriors have lost two games in a row in the series and had all the momentum sucked from them. They will need Durant to come back and play in Game 5 if they want to have any shot at getting to a Game 6.
Look For Durant to Be Key Cog
The winner of this game is going to come down to whether or not Durant plays. He’s an integral part of the system and is a huge difference maker. If he plays, the Warriors will win. If he doesn’t, the Raptors will clinch the series at home. It is as simple as that. Right now, Durant is listed as questionable, but I would imagine that he plays. Make your bet closer to game time when his status is not up in the air. I’m going to guess he doesn’t play, so put your money on the Raptors.
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