The Toronto Raptors managed to stave off the Golden State Warriors in their quest for a three-peat, but not without some added drama in the clinching victory during Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
After Klay Thompson exited the game with what would later be revealed as an ACL tear, the Raptors and Warriors battled to a standstill for the majority of the fourth quarter.
With Stephen Curry hitting a pair of free throws, the Raptors led by just one point with 18 seconds remaining in the game. Toronto substituted Danny Green into the game for Serge Ibaka, giving them another foul shooter and capable ball handler.
Kawhi Leonard brought the ball up the floor for Toronto but gave the ball up to Green with a double team approaching. Green–who was trapped between the half-court line and the sideline–attempted to throw the ball back to Leonard. But the pass was errant, and suddenly the Warriors had a chance to win the game in the final seconds.
Ibaka promptly re-entered the game for Green, who had to watch the remainder of the contest at the edge of his seat:
Danny Green on watching the last 11 seconds after his brutal turnover in Game 6: "I was probably more stressed than anybody else. Suicide watch – I probably shouldn't say that… I really did feel like I cost us the game."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) June 16, 2019
Fortunately, Green's miscue did not come back to bite the Raptors. The Warriors sprung Stephen Curry for an open look at a three from the right wing, but it clattered off the rim, and Golden State has assessed a technical foul for calling a timeout when they had none remaining.
Leonard would make three straight free throws to ice the game and the championship for the Raptors, but not before Green nearly had a personal meltdown.
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