Warriors narrowly beat Toronto Raptors, lose Kevin Durant again, force Game 6 in NBA Finals

Kevin Durant leaves Game 5 of NBA Finals with injury
(Image credit: Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson led the Golden State Warriors to a 106-105 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, narrowly preventing the Raptors from winning their first NBA championship in Toronto. The series, which Toronto now leads 3-2, returns to Oakland for Game 6 on Thursday. Warriors star Kevin Durant returned to play after sitting out the series with an injured calf, and he scored 11 points before leaving the game, and almost certainly the series, with another leg injury nearly 10 minutes into the second quarter. Curry scored 31 points in the game and Thompson 26, and their 3-pointers in the final minutes gave the Warriors their final lead. Raptors standout Kawhi Leonard ended the game with 26 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks.

Durant's exit cast a pall over the Warriors' victory. "I have a lot of emotions right now," Curry said after the game, wiping away tears. Golden State coach Steve Kerr said he told the team "I didn't know what to say because on the one hand I'm so proud of them, just the amazing heart and grit that they showed, and on the other I'm just devastated for Kevin. ... So it's a bizarre feeling that we all have right now. An incredible win and a horrible loss at the same time."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.