This has been a memorable last few weeks for the NBA. So let’s go into it!
Game 2 of the NBA Finals. WARRIORS 109 RAPTORS 104
Down 59-54 at the break, the Warriors stormed out of the gates on a 18-0 run to go up by 13 and stun the Toronto crowd. That was a lead they would never relinquish, although they did come close to doing that.
Up 106-104 in the final seconds, Stephen Curry almost lost the ball for the Warriors, but Andre Igoudala recovered it and drained a game-clinching 3 with 8.7 seconds left to propel the Warriors to a 109-104 game 2 win to even the series at 1, heading Oracle Arena tied at1.
GAME 3 RAPTORS 123 WARRIORS 109
The Warriors were dealt another severe injury, as Klay Thompson left game 2 with a hamstring injury, and was ruled out for game3.
So with no KD or Klay, Stephen Curry was forced to go all-out as he put up 47 points keeping the Warriors in the game against this feisty Raptors team led by Danny Green who constantly knocked down 3s to keep the Raptors ahead throughout the game, as Toronto held off Golden State despite Curry’s efforts 123-109.
GAME 4: RAPTORS 105 WARRIORS 92
The Warriors started the game strong, as with Klay back the Warriors jumped out to an 11 point lead in the second quarter, and seemed to be on their way to a game 4 win. But Kwahi Lenord had other ideas, as he led the Raptors on a furious comeback.
Toronto cut the lead to 4 just before halftime, before Lenord torched the Warriors in the 3rd quarter by scoring 17 points to give the Raptors a 12 point lead going into the 4th.
Try as they might, a gassed Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson weren’t able to keep up with the Raptors, as Toronto moved to within a win of their first ever NBA title by taking game 4 105-92 to take a 3-1 series lead over the Warriors.
GAME 5: WARRIORS 106 RAPTORS 105
Down 3-1 and facing elimination, the Warriors needed a savior to keep their 3 peat hopes alive and luckily for them, that savior was Kevin Durant.
KD was back on the floor after missing the last 3 rounds with a calf injury and right when the game started, you could tell why the Warriors needed him, as KD lifted the Warriors to an early lead with 11 points in 12 minutes, making shot after shot.
But in the second quarter, the series and the NBA landscape changed in an instant, as Durant went down and grabbed his Achilles, potentially washing away hopes of a Warriors 3 peat, and washing away the visions of Knicks fans everywhere, as KDs injury was a ruptured Achilles forcing him to miss the rest of the finals and the whole next season.
KD was set to become a free agent in the offseason and was expected to get a deal for the ages with plenty of teams clearing up cap space just to get him. But when KD hit the floor, everyone knew that the all those teams were now scrambling for a plan B.
As for the rest of the game, the Raptors slowly inches back into the game, before taking the lead when Kwahi Lenord went on a 12-0 run to put the Raptors up
103-97 with 3 minutes left and the city of Toronto tasting a championship.
But the Warriors had other plans, as after a surprising timeout by the Raptors, Stephen Curry And Klay Thompson rediscovered their hot touch, as Klay then Steph , then Klay again knocked down 3s to give the Warriors a 106-103 lead with 18 seconds remaining in game 5.
A few possessions later, we found ourselves at 106-105 with 15 seconds left, and the Raptors with the ball and a chance to win the championship on a buzzer beater.
But Kyle Lowrys potential Championship- clinching shot was blocked by Draymond Green to send the series back to Oracle Arena with the series now being 3-2 Raptors.
GAME 6: RAPTORS 114 WARRIORS 110
Playing in Oracle Arena for the last time ever (As the Warriors would moving into Chase Arena in San Francisco next season), the Golden State crowd was as loud as ever for game 6, and the injury-riddled Warriors responded by hanging tough with the physicality of the Raptors, who were being led by Kyle Lowry who scored 11 straight points for the Raptors propelling them to a 3 point lead at the break.
But in the second half, the Warriors rallied as Klay Thompson started hitting 3 after 3, to give the Warriors a 3 point lead. But once again just when it seemed the Warriors were rolling, another injury occurred, as Klay Thompson landed awkwardly on his right leg and all of Oracle held its breath as Thomson was taken to the tunnel not on his own power , before surprisingly coming back out of the tunnel and hitting the two personal foul free throws, before going back to the tunnel with the Warriors up 85-80.
As you would expect with no KD and no Klay, the Raptors took advantage as Fred Vanvleet knocked down a barrage of 3s in the 4th as the Raptors took a 6 point lead into the final 60 seconds and once again on the cusp of that elusive championship.
But the Warriors had other ideas, as Demarcus Cousins and Draymond Green led the Warriors on a furious comeback as they cut the deficit down to 111-110, and after Danny Green threw the ball out of bounds. The Warriors suddenly had hope, as they were down 1 with 8.7 seconds left on the clock.
But that hope vanished quickly, as Steph Curry missed a potential go-ahead 3 and even though the Warriors got the rebound, they called a timeout, not realizing they had no timeouts left resulting in a technical foul, as Lenord knocked down his free throws to seal the championship for the Raptors 114-110 in game 6!
Kwahi was named NBA finals MVP and rightfully so!!
CONGRATS RAPTORS YOU DESERVED IT!!
NBA OFFSEASON:
AD TO LA!
So remember how I said Anthony Davis requested out of New Orleans? Well even after the Pelicans won the lottery, AD said he wanted out, and he finally got his wish as the Lakers acquired him in exchange for their young core in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, the No 4 pick in Thursday nights NBA Draft and two future first rousing picks.
This is big for the Lakers because of the LBJ- AD duo now becoming a thing, as the Lakers are now the 2020 championship favorites according to many experts with the West wide open due to the Warriors injuries.
As for the Pelicans, it’s big for them because they can potentially have a super young core of Zion Williams, Ball, Ingram, Hart and Jrue Holiday.
WINNER OF TRADE: EVEN
KYRIE LEAVES BOSTON:
Kyrie Irving opted out of his $31 million deal with the Boston Celtics and is now an unrestricted Free agent.
The Knicks, Nets and Lakers are the front runners to land the star according to multiple reports.
CONLEY TO UTAH:
The Utah Jazz now have a big 3 as they acquired star Mike Conley from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Kyle Korver, Grayson Allen, Jae Crowder, the 23rd Pick in this years Draft and two future first rounders.
This helps the Grizzlies rebuild as they have acquired veterans, while the Jazz now sport a big 3 of Dónovan Mitchel, Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert.
WINNER OF TRADE: EVEN
PISTONS GET 30TH PICK:
The Detroit Pistons have acquired the 30th pick in tonight’s draft and Tony Snell from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for John Leuer.
WINNER OF TRADE: PISTONS
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