Philippines, 25 Dec 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


2019 NBA Finals -- Depleted Warriors no match to robust Raptors in Game 3 (PHOTOS)


PhilBoxing.com




OAKLAND- The Toronto Raptors took a pivotal 2-1 series lead in these 2019 NBA Finals following a tough 123-109 Game 3 win on Wednesday night (Thursday morning Philippine time) before a sea of 19,596 mostly disappointed fans at the Oracle Arena.

Kawhi Leonard hit 9-of-17 from the field to finish with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists. But he was far from a one-man army as the NBA's only team in Canada moved two games closer to winning all the marbles with Games 5 and 7 scheduled at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

All five of Toronto's starters scored in double-figures, staying steady while thwarting repeated comebacks from a gallant Warriors team that trailed by as many as 16 with only 29.4 seconds left in the third quarter.

Kyle Lowry drilled five 3s to finish with 23 points and nine assists. Pascal Siakam and Danny Greem each had 18 with Green punctuating his performance with six made triples. Veteran big Marc Gasol had a solid 17 points, seven rebounds and four dimes.



Toronto's balanced offense and 17 converted threes, were the obvious difference in Toronto's regaining of homecourt advantage in these Finals.

"Once I'm driving in the paint, kicking out to guys that are making shots, the defense doesn't want to collapse as easy, and we just got to keep playing them in a flow, really. I feel like we just don't need to worry about me scoring the basketball, we all can score with the offense that we have, just got to keep moving," Leonard said of the template they used to beat the powerhouse Warriors.

Steph Curry led Golden State with a playoffs career-high of 47 but besides Draymond Green's 17 points and Iguodala's 11, Curry got little help from the rest of the Warriors, who shot just 39.6 from the field (36 of 91) and had only 20 assists against Toronto's 30.



Minus three of their regular rotation players --- Kevin Durant (calf strain), Klay Thompson (sore hamstring) and Kevon Looney (rib injury), the Warriors simply didn't have the manpower to hold off the relentless Raptors.

"They played well the whole game. Every time we made a run or got the crowd into it,they either made a tough three or there was a foul called and they slowed the tempo down or something went their way. So it's just how it goes sometimes. You have to tip your cap to all the guys that made pivotal plays in the right times. I think defensively in the first quarter, if we can get off to a better start to hopefully take a little bit of rhythm away. Giving up 36 in the first quarter is tough," Curry said at the post-game press conference.

By stealing Game 3, the Raptors put themselves in a great position to win the franchise's first ever NBA title since joining the league as an expansion team in 1995. Game 5 and 7, if necessary, are penciled at Scotiabank Arena where the Raptors were 32-9 during the regular season.

Game 4 returns to the Oracle Arena on Friday night (Saturday morning RP time) and with a couple more days to rest their injured bodies, ESPN has reported that both Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant might be back in action to know this series at 2-2.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ponciano Melo Jr..


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Ortega wins Laguna chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 25 Dec 2024
  • Paciones to fight Li in Bangkok on Dec. 26
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 24 Dec 2024
  • Antonio Vargas Seeks Showdown with WBA Bantamweight Champion Seiya Tsutsumi
    , Tue, 24 Dec 2024
  • FIGHTBOOK ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LAUNCH IN EARLY 2025 AND OPENS PRE-REGISTRATION FOR PROFESSIONAL BOXERS
    , Tue, 24 Dec 2024
  • IBA investigates possible integrity violations at the ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Thailand
    , Tue, 24 Dec 2024
  • NM Ilar rules 7th Nova Onas Rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Dec 2024
  • Where Have All THE Heavyweights Gone?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 23 Dec 2024
  • World-Ranked Contenders Jayson Mama, Joey Canoy, and Esneth Domingo Scheduled to Return on December 27 in Kalamansig
    , Mon, 23 Dec 2024
  • Beltran loses by KO in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 23 Dec 2024
  • CATTERALL COLLIDES WITH BARBOZA JR AT CO-OP LIVE ON FEBRUARY 15
    , Mon, 23 Dec 2024
  • Elite and Youth Champions Named to Conclude the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships
    , Mon, 23 Dec 2024
  • Quirante KOs former teammate in 4th round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 23 Dec 2024
  • Santisima, Portes bow in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 23 Dec 2024
  • Male and Female Junior Division Champions Named at USA Boxing National Championships
    , Sun, 22 Dec 2024
  • Curry, Green Stinking the Joint to Spite Kerr, Resist Change in Dying Warriors Dynasty?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 21 Dec 2024
  • Taguig Stallions Triumph as First-Ever Sharks Billiards Association Champions
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 21 Dec 2024
  • All or nothing for Magsayo
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 21 Dec 2024
  • Male Bantam and Intermediate Champions Crowned on Day Four Two Divisions Finalized During Thursday’s Action at 2024 USA Boxing National Championships
    , Sat, 21 Dec 2024
  • Usyk vs. Fury II: Can Tyson Fury Force Lineal Trilogy?
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 20 Dec 2024
  • Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw X’mas Challenge on Dec. 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Dec 2024
  • Rapid Chess Tournament goes to Laguna
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Dec 2024
  • PH Boxing in 2024 Much Better Than 2023; Looking Up To More Opportunities in 2025
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 20 Dec 2024
  • Takayama wins vacant IBO World minimum title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Dec 2024
  • Underrated heavyweight Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh Headlines January 10th
    , Fri, 20 Dec 2024
  • Antaran beats Patac by Majority Decision
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Dec 2024




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2024 philboxing.com.