JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
For the first time Toronto Raptors is a champion in history and won the sixth match of the 114:110 finals against Golden State Warriors.
Raptors played well from the very beginning of Kyle Lowry, who scored the first eight points of the team, hitting all three shots. Warriors remained in the game thanks to Klay Thompson, who scored 10 points in the first quarter. Initially Toronto scored points with great ease, but when Golden State started defending the zone, they had more and more problems.
The Warriors could not oppose their rivals in the best line-up. Durant suffered a calf injury in the final of the Western Conference with Houston Rockets, and when he returned for the fifth game of the NBA finals, he had to leave the court with an Achilles tendon injury. In the sixth, decisive match Klay Thompson played very well, for three quarters he threw 30 points, but the last part of the match did not come out because of a knee injury – after the match it turned out that he broke his ligaments.
As time went on, the match got even, but Golden State was in the lead for the first time only at 27:26.
The first quarter ended in a draw 32:32. In the second quarter Dinosaurs again had an optical advantage and their game could be more pleasing, but documenting this with points and advantage on the scoreboard came with difficulty. At the halfway point the guests were better by one throw 60:57,
The last quarter of Golden State led only by two points 88:86. Most of the time the result remained close to a draw, with a slight indication on Raptors. This could have changed at the end of the race. A mistake in Danny Green’s offensive gave Steve Kerr’s charges a chance to change the fate of the match.
For 18 seconds to the final buzzer Steph Curry hit both free kicks, bringing Warriors closer to 110:111.
Steph Curry threw a throw for three to take the lead and perhaps a win, perhaps the third consecutive championship title. He missed.
What happened shortly after this brief confusion, the ball goes into the hands of Draymond Green (which was recorded as an attack fundraiser) and the Warriors asked the referee for a time of 0.9 seconds. This was not a good decision because the Warriors didn’t have time! It meant a techno for the coach jden free kick for the rivals. Kawhi hit him. 0.9 seconds to the end of the game the ball is in possession of the side for the Raptors team it goes directly to the basket to Kawhi, he hits, the clock shows 00:00. Joy is premature – the referees announce, after a moment of dismay, that earlier Andre Iguodala fouled Leonard. Kawhi is therefore on the line with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Yes, this cold son of a bitch hits both the slow and the slow. It is 114:110 and Toronto Raptors become NBA Champions. Now the joy is real.
Leonard scored an average of 28.5 points in the final games and for the second time in his career he was chosen as the most valuable player in the finals. Previously, the MVP was in 2014, still in the colors of San Antonio Spurs.
