Despite entering Thursday as the favorites to win the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors dropped Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors on the road.
Raptors forward Pascal Siakam recorded a playoff career-high 32 points while Kawhi Leonard had 23 points on just 5-of-14 shooting from the field.
The Splash Brothers combined for 55 points but the rest of the Warriors roster failed to step up against the Raptors, who killed the Warriors in transition.
With the loss, the Warriors fell to 18-2 in Game 1 situations under head coach Steve Kerr. The other Game 1 loss suffered by the Warriors occurred in the 2016 Western Conference Finals against the Thunder.
The Warriors played without Kevin Durant on Thursday and his absence was noticeable. While they haven’t needed him since he left with a calf injury three weeks ago in the second round, it is clear they will need him against the Raptors.
He is expected to return in either Game 3 or Game 4.
Given how dominant the Warriors have been in recent years, it is still remarkable they have only lost two Game 1s under Kerr. Of course, Thunder fans know all too well how that 2016 series against the Warriors ended.
Serge Ibaka certainly remembers that series loss …
