Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 1 of 2019 NBA Finals

3. The Warriors do miss Kevin Durant

Yes, the Warriors had won each of the last five postseason games coming into this matchup without Kevin Durant, who’s currently nursing a calf injury he sustained in Game 5 of the conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.

Yes, Durant’s absence has unleashed Curry. In fact, the two-time former MVP has scored at least 30 points in Golden State’s last six playoff games, including a 34-point outing in the series opener of the Finals. Curry’s fellow Splash Brother — Klay Thompson — didn’t do too bad, either, as he chipped in with 21 points.

But with the Raptors trapping him on just about every pick-and-roll set, Chef Curry had to work for all of his 34 points. Even more to the point, it wasn’t the kind of back-breaking performance that we saw in the previous round against the Blazers.

With Draymond Green (10-10-10 triple double) thoroughly being outplayed by Pascal Siakam and no other player on the roster scoring in double figures, it’s times like this where the Dubs do in fact miss No. 35.