Warriors at Raptors
The Toronto Raptors play a game in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history on Thursday when they host the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. The Raptors have ridden star forward Kawhi Leonard to the Finals, while the powerful Warriors will open the series without star forward Kevin Durant.
Durant has been ruled out of Game 1 with a calf injury and there is a slight chance he could return for Game 2 of the best-of-seven series, while center DeMarcus Cousins (quadriceps) could play in the opening contest. "His next step is individual court work," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said of Durant at Wednesday's media availability. "That will be the next priority. Over the next couple of days, hopefully, he can ramp up. We have to see him practice before he can play a game. He hasn't practiced yet." Toronto has homecourt advantage for the Finals due to a better regular-season record than Golden State and winning the opening two games would improve the club's chances of winning the series. "It's important to get every game." Raptors guard Danny Green told reporters. "Especially against a team like that, you can't let games slip away or home court slip away, because they're very good in their home building. So we want to try our best to protect home court, get every game possible."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC, Sportsnet One (Toronto)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Cousins suffered his injury on April 15 in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers and he said Wednesday that he is ready to return. "I feel good," Cousins said. "My quad is coming along. It's healed for the most part. Still whipping things into the shape, building the muscle endurance needed to play at a high level. Everything is coming along well." Point guard Stephen Curry is picking up the scoring slack with Durant sidelined and has scored 30 or more points in five straight playoff games and six of the past seven, while shooting guard Klay Thompson has just one 30-point outing in 16 playoff contests.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS: Leonard is averaging 31.2 points and 8.8 rebounds in the postseason and is again being discussed as perhaps the best player in the NBA while carrying Toronto to the Finals. "I'm not playing the game for that reason," Leonard said of the top player debate. "I'm playing to have fun and try to be the best player I can be. I'm happy with myself and what I have done in my career and I'm just going to keep on from there. It's not about me being famous or want to have more fame. It's about me playing basketball and having fun on the floor." Leonard is slated to become a free agent in July so this could be the Raptors' one-and-only Finals opportunity with him on the roster.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Raptors won both regular-season meetings - 131-128 in overtime at Toronto on Nov. 29 and 113-93 on Dec. 12 at Oakland, Calif.
2. Raptors F OG Anunoby (appendectomy) has missed the entire postseason but could return at some point in the series.
3. Golden State PF Draymond Green had back-to-back triple-doubles to wrap up the Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers and has four during the playoffs.