The Golden State Warriors had so many reasons to just give up during Monday night’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
First, Kevin Durant, who looked so good and seemed to breathe new life into the team in the first quarter, limped off the floor in the second quarter after suffering an Achilles injury.
Then the Raptors roared back to take a six-point lead with just three minutes left in the game.
The crowd inside the Scotiabank Arena was ready to blow the roof off the place and celebrate their first NBA title. Fans outside in Jurassic Park were ready to go absolutely crazy.
Nobody would have blamed the exhausted Warriors from waving the white flag and allowing the party to begin.
But then Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green did what they’ve done so often – they refused to give up. Instead, they kept grinding and hitting big 3-pointers to take a late lead.
They survived two brutal mistakes in the final minute – a backcourt violation and a moving pick – and then finally won Game 5, 106-105, after Kyle Lowry’s very makeable 3-point attempt at the buzzer didn’t even come close to going in.
Curry was fired up after final buzzer, having pulled off what might be the most impressive victory of his career, considering how much was stacked against he and the Warriors.
This team and franchise has taken a lot of grief since adding Durant three years ago, as if they needed another all-world player on their team. But Monday night in Toronto this team showed everyone just how special it is, never giving up, never pulling back, and always pushing forward.
So. Much. Heart. It was goosebump stuff for fans who didn’t have a dog in the fight, but especially for Warriors fans who saw their guys do something amazing yet again.
Afterward head coach Steve Kerr didn’t know what to say about his team, a group that left him so impressed with what they did in such a difficult situation and especially after having to see Durant limp away.
Now we get a Game 6 back in Oracle Arena in Oakland. One final game in the old barn that has seen a lot of magical moments over the years.
Durant, who is getting an MRI on Tuesday, is likely done for the series and maybe much longer.
But Curry, Klay, Draymond and the rest of the Warriors will be rested and ready.
And it’s tough to bet against them.
Which is something Raptors fans found out firsthand in Game 5.
