Toronto Raptors feature in the 2019 NBA Finals. It's come down to a showdown between the Golden State Warriors and the Raptors, with the former defending the NBA title for two years running. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series just concluded Thursday evening, May 30, to the tune of the Raptors leading the Warriors by one game.

It is possible that fearless Toronto could end up stealing a hat trick from the Golden State, and in doing so enter their own names on the list of NBA champions. With the Raptors keeping the lead through three quarters, including the fourth, a victory of 118 over the Warriors’ 109 was not in doubt.

Raptors make history

USA Today reports that Toronto reached their highest post-season achievement yet when they won the Western Conference and secured their first-ever appearance on the NBA Finals. Another record they gained was the first Finals game outside the US, with the first game of this year’s series played at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. This moment, added with home-court advantage, may have really pumped the Raptors for their first Finals encounter with the title-defending Warriors. Golden State, in turn, is keen to get a three-peat and make it four championships in five consecutive Finals outings.

Standing in their way, however, is a determined foe in Toronto, in particular, forward Pascal Siakam.

His contribution to Game 1 is his personal playoffs-career high of 32 points, some of which were scored by his streak of 11 basket shots one after the other in mid-game. With his fellow Raptors, they ensured a 10-point lead going into halftime. While the Warriors rallied to lead after the third quarter, Toronto was not going to give them any breathing room.

Ultimately, a rim-running buzzer-beater from Fred VanFleet put the home team up by 12 in the tail end of the last quarter, ensuring Golden State could not equalize before the last bell.

Warriors’ obstacles

The Golden State Warriors look to be in the underdog position for the 2019 NBA Finals despite their two-championship streak from last year.

If all seven games in the series are played, there are more Toronto games than in the Warriors’ turf at Oracle Arena in Oakland. In addition, Kevin Durant has been sidelined by a strained calf. Add to the fact that they are playing against an invigorated Raptors team basking in their Finals first-time feats, and their chances of a hat trick have become even chancier than ever.

Stephen Curry had the lion’s share of Warriors points for the Finals Game 1 with 34 to Siakam’s 32, which according to CBS Sports was ultimately not enough. Only Klay Thompson and Draymond Green scored other double-digits for Golden State. Concerning the Raptors’ top scorers, Siakam is joined by Kawhi Leonard's 23 points, Marc Gasol’s 20, VanFleet’s 15 and Danny Green’s 11. Game 2 is on Sunday, June 2, still at Scotiabank Arena.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED