The Warriors head to Toronto for Game 5 with their season on the line.
Game 5: Warriors at RaptorsMonday, June 106 p.m.Scotiabank ArenaToronto, Ontario
WATCH: ABC
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, ESPN Radio, Warriors Mobile App and Warriors Radio Network
BACKS AGAINST THE WALL
It’s officially win-or-go home as the Warriors’ season is on the line heading into Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday in Toronto. Down 3-1 in the series, the Warriors need a win to keep the series alive, and fortunately for the Dubs, they have had their share of success away from home this season. The Warriors finished the regular season tied for the NBA’s best road record (27-14) and have gone 7-3 on the road in the playoffs thus far. Though the Dubs are down, they certainly aren’t out. They’ve overcome a 3-1 playoff series deficit before during this run of five straight trips to the NBA Finals, coming back to beat the Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. The Dubs can’t do it all in one game, and if they’re going to make this series comeback, the first step in doing so has to come on Monday.
Although the game will be played in Toronto, Warriors fans can get together with Dub Nation for the official Game 5 Watch Party at Oracle Arena. Tickets are $25 and the event includes game night concessions and merchandise available for purchase, performances by the Warriors’ in-game entertainment teams, free cheer cards for the first 10,000 fans, a commemorative 47 Seasons Dog Tag for the first 2,500 fans and multiple photo opportunities for all fans in attendance. » Watch Party Tickets and Information
LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors got a combined 55 points from the Splash Brothers but the Dubs suffered their second straight loss after running out of gas in the second half of Friday’s 105-92 defeat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. » Full Game Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
Raptors Lead The Series 3-1
LAST GAME'S STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins
TOR: Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Kevin Durant (strained calf) is TBD. Team Notes
TOR: Jordan Loyd (coach's decision) is out. Team Notes
MAKING THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENTS
Despite the score of Friday’s Game 4 defeat, the Dubs actually did a lot of things right. They out-rebounded Toronto on both the offensive and defensive glass, had a better shooting percentage and scored more fast break points. But what really hurt the Warriors were there 19 turnovers and their inability to convert at the free throw line. Regarding turnovers, the Raptors only had four more points off turnovers than the Dubs, but those 19 Warriors miscues meant 19 possessions that didn’t result in a shot attempt. The Raptors’ defense, which ranked fifth in the league in defensive rating (106.8 points allowed per 100 possessions), has improved in the postseason (defensive rating of 103.3), so the Dubs will need to find a way to limit their unnecessary turnovers. Additionally, the Warriors went just 14-for-21 on free throws in their home gym, while Toronto was 23-for-24 in Game 4. While buckets won’t always be easy to come by in the playoffs, leaving points at the free throw line and making unnecessary turnovers is a good way to dig yourself a hole, particularly against a team that has been playing as sharp as the Raptors.
TEAM PLAYOFF LEADERS
RAPTORS SCOUTING REPORTThrough the first four games of the series, the Raptors have shown few vulnerabilities. Their defense has minimized extended Warriors runs, keeping them in games even when their shots aren’t falling, as was the case during their 17-point first quarter in Friday’s Game 4 victory. Additionally, timely 3-point shooting from multiple perimeter threats has proved troublesome for the Dubs throughout the series. On Friday, the Raptors overcame a cold shooting first half and were 8-for-15 on 3-pointers over the third and fourth quarters. And of course, there’s the brilliance of Kawhi Leonard. He has averaged over 30 points in the series and over the two games in Oakland he shot better than 50 percent. In addition to Leonard, it has been one or two other Raptors players having big games in Toronto’s victories. In Game 1, it was Pascal Siakam’s 32 points on 14-for-17 shooting. Danny Green and Kyle Lowry combined to go 11-for-19 on 3-pointers in Game 3 and in Game 4 Serge Ibaka had a huge game off the bench with 20 points on 9-for-12 shooting. Completely stopping Leonard is unrealistic, but whether the Warriors can keep all of the other guys from having those signature performances in Game 5 can impact whether or not the series comes back to Oakland for Game 6.