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Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from Game 3 of 2019 NBA Finals

By Jonathan Turco

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a shot against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a shot against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

The Toronto Raptors took back home-court advantage in the 2019 NBA Finals after their Game 3 victory against the Golden State Warriors, 123-109.

The Toronto Raptors convincingly won Game 3 of the 2019 NBA Finals on the road against the hosting Golden State Warriors, moving to 10-0 in franchise playoff history when scoring 115 or more points.

The Raptors were in control for the majority of Game 3, having outscored their opponent in each of the four quarters. In the first half of the game, Kyle Lowry led his team with 15 of his 23 points and finished with with nine assists and four rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting. It was easily his most productive game of the series, impacting the final result in a multitude of ways.

In the second half, Kawhi Leonard found ways to break through the Warriors’ double-teams and was productive on both ends, contributing a team-high 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. The Raptors had six players in double-digit scoring, including all five of their starters, who each scored 17 or more points.

In the absence of Warriors All-Star Klay Thompson due to his hamstring, Stephen Curry stepped up in a huge way for his team. Curry had a postseason career-high 47 points in the loss, to go along with his eight rebounds and seven assists on 14-of-31 shooting and 6-of-14 from deep. Draymond Green had his best offensive performance in the series so far with 17 points and seven rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting, though most of them came a little too late.

The Raptors led throughout the majority of the game and won in a convincing fashion. The game was all but over when an impossible made 3 by Fred VanVleet late in the fourth quarter put his team up by 13. The Raptors led by as many as 17 and got meaningful minutes from everyone who stepped onto the floor in the team’s jersey.

There was a stretch in the second quarter where the Raptors held the opposition scoreless for four-plus minutes, the second time in back-to-back games. Toronto held the Warriors offense to exactly 109 points for the third straight game, seemingly answering the bell every time Golden State tried to make a run. Here are the takeaways from the Game 3 victory.

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