Raptors vs Warriors
- Injury report: For the Raptors, OG Anunoby (appendectomy) is listed as questionable. Jordan Loyd (coach’s decision) is listed as out. For the Warriors, DeMarcus Cousins (left quadriceps tear) is listed as questionable and Kevin Durant (right calf strain) is listed as out.
- The brightest lights: The Raptors will host the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals on Thursday night. This is the first time in franchise history that the team has reached the Finals, and it will be the first time in NBA history that an NBA Finals game is played outside of the United States. The Raptors enter the Finals after defeating the Orlando Magic in five games, the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games and the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Golden State is in Toronto after defeating the L.A. Clippers in six games, the Houston Rockets in six games and the Portland Trail Blazers in four games to reach the Finals for the fifth consecutive season.
- Points on the board: Coming into this series, both teams have had players put up huge numbers and performances in the postseason. For Toronto, Kawhi Leonard has been sensational in the postseason, averaging 31.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 38 minutes per game. Leonard is also shooting 51 percent from the floor, 39 percent from beyond the arc,
and 88 percent from the free-throw line. He has scored at least 30 points 11 times in this year's postseason and at least 35 points six times. While Toronto has had a number of players step up in various games, Pascal Siakam has been the team's second-leading scorer in the postseason, averaging 18.7 points per contest. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry is averaging 27.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 37 minutes while shooting 45 percent from the floor, 39 percent from three, and 94 percent from the free-throw line. Leonard and Curry place third and fifth in postseason scoring averages. Though Kevin Durant will not play Game 1 of the Finals and has missed Golden State’s last four games with a right calf strain, no one has averaged more points per game than Durant in this year’s postseason. The Warriors forward has averaged 34.2 points per game in 11 postseason games played, shooting 51 percent from the floor, 42 percent from beyond the arc and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
