The Golden State Warriors pulled a rabbit out of a hat in Game 5 on Monday night, edging the Toronto Raptors 106-105 to force an NBA Finals Game 6 back at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won despite a devastating injury to Kevin Durant in the second quarter, plus a late six-point deficit that seemed to have them on the ropes.
Golden State closed the game on a 9-2 to get the win, securing one of the gutsiest victories in franchise history. Warriors big man Jordan Bell even likened the triumph to surviving a brawl, per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated:
“You ever been jumped? Someone beat you up? A whole bunch of people? That ever happen to you before?” Bell asked a reporter.
After the reporter said no, Bell said: “It’s like someone comes in to jump you. And you come back and your friends come in and kick their a–. You’re kind of happy. It’s a better feeling than when you jump somebody. … You get them back.”
The Warriors started hot with Durant back on the floor, but they had the air sucked out of them went he crumpled to the floor early in the second quarter with an Achilles injury. Golden State weathered the storm, though, and even built up a 14-point lead in the third quarter.
However, the Raptors fought back and took a six-point lead with around three minutes left as Kawhi Leonard went into full takeover mode. That's when the Warriors closed the game on that 9-2 run, stunning Toronto.
Bell played four minutes at the start of the fourth quarter, scoring two points but not recording any other stats.
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