NBA – Eastern Conference Champion the Toronto Raptors visit the defending back to back NBA Champion the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The Raptors won Game 1 and Game 3 to take a 2 – 1 lead in their best of seven series.
Prior to Game 4, both Warriors Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney are back in the Warriors lineup and expected to play despite the injury they suffered in Game 2, while 2 – time Finals MVP Kevin Durant is still out due to a calf injury.
In the game, The Warriors start strong in the 1st half taking an early double digit lead in the game with the help of their returning star player Klay Thompson alongside Stephen Curry who exploded for 47 points in Game 3 losing effort.
In the 2nd half of the game the Raptors came strong in the 3rd quarter, hits back to back 3’s in the early minutes to take their first lead of the game 48 – 46. Since then the Raptors never look back as they outscored the defending champion 37 – 21 in the 3rd and finish the three quarters 79 – 67, Raptors up by 12 points.
In the 4th and final quarter, Raptors hit a 3’s extending their lead into 15 points in the very first possession of the final quarter. Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green had no answer on Raptors complete domination led by Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry to finish the game 105 – 92.
With the Raptors win in Game 4 they are now one win away of capturing their very first NBA Championship in franchise history after 24th NBA Season. While the defending back to back NBA Champion are facing elimination in Game 5 and for the first time they are the underdog in the series.
Kevin Durant, who is nursing an injury is still questionable in Game 5? He might be the answer for the Warriors if he comes back? But if not it will be a very tough series for the Warriors to get back after falling down 1 – 3. Although it has been done by the Warriors in 2016 Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Game 5 is scheduled at the Raptors home court, will the Raptors finish the series or will the defending NBA Champion extend their series and continue their home of three peat? Let’s wait and see.
