Philippines, 29 Jun 2025
  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:

  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Asenso Ozamis Open chess tournament on July 12 and 13
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS’ JAKE PAUL VS. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR. PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Guro Dan Inosanto: Guardian of the Filipino Fighting Spirit
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Christian Mbilili vs. Maciej Sulecki
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Unbeaten Philippines Top Prospect Criztian Pitt Laurente Signs with Sanman Boxing
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS PROMISING AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT SARDIUS SIMMONS
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Madoka Wada Halts Chay Rivas in Tokyo, Retains OPBF Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Grand Prix a Grand Concept
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • PHOTOS: Pacquiao Showcases Vintage Form During Media Day Workout at Wildcard Gym
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Christian Mbilli & Maciej Sulecki Collide for Interim Super Middleweight World Title FRIDAY in Quebec City
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Rivas vs Wada: Battle for Women’s OPBF Supremacy Today in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Mexican boxing icon Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Respects Cuban fighters & rivalry
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Claressa Shields Partners with King Moore to Empower Detroit Youth with the “Follow Your Dreams” Program Presented by SMT Financial Partners
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Saturday’s title defense vs. Yuniel Dorticos could be prelude to mega-fight for Gilberto Ramirez against Jake Paul or Unification showdown with Jay Opetaia or Badou Jack
    , Wed, 25 Jun 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 June 2025: Norman Flattens Sasaki; Simsri Edges Araneta; Rodriguez Outpoints Yafai
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025
  • FM Daluz rules 7th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.