The Golden State Warriors overcame the loss of towering forward Kevin Durant to defeat the Toronto Raptors 106-105 in game five of the NBA Finals and keep alive their hopes of a third consecutive championship.
Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry celebrates beating Toronto in game five of the NBA finals. Photo: AFP
The Warriors held off a late charge by the Raptors on Tuesday (NZ time) to secure the win behind 20 three pointers and improved defence, cutting the Raptors advantage to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
The two-time defending champions were initially energised by the return of Durant, who returned to the starting lineup after missing more than a month with a right calf strain.
Durant made a trio of three pointers and scored 11 points but appeared to reinjure the leg in the second quarter while pivoting with the ball and had to be helped back to the locker room by Curry, Andre Iguodala and the team's medical staff.
He was later seen leaving the game on crutches.
Game six is in Oakland on Friday.
- Reuters