Warriors take Game 5 with 106-105 win against Raptors
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Warriors narrowly defeated the Raptors with a 106-105 win during Monday night’s Game 5, extending the NBA Finals.
The Raptors still lead the series. Game 6 is Thursday at Oracle Arena.
Kevin Durant, the Warrior star, left early in the game with a leg injury, limping off after presumably aggravating the same injury to his lower right leg that had kept him out of the Warriors' last nine playoff games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With under five minutes in the fourth quarter, Toronto took a 98-97 lead.
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, left, falls over Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka, bottom, as Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) looks on during first-half basketball game action in Game 5. (The Canadian Press via AP)
The Warriors entered the night trailing the Raptors 3-1 in the title series — meaning their hopes of a third consecutive NBA championship were squarely on the brink now.
Durant had not played since straining a calf muscle in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against Houston, and the team hoped his presence would be a boost.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}For the 12 minutes he was out there, Durant — the NBA Finals MVP when the Warriors captured titles in 2017 and 2018 — indeed was a threat.
And then he limped off, leaving the Warriors to play without him once again.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.