Golden State Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction: 2019 Finals Will Be Long Series Amid Injuries

The Golden State Warriors needed just nine total games to win the last two championships. If they hope to successfully three-peat and beat the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals, they might be forced to play nearly as many games in the last series of this year’s playoffs.

If we’ve learned anything from the first two games of the finals, it’s that neither team is going to stroll to a championship. This series looks like it’s going to be a lengthy one, lasting six or seven games, no matter who ends up on top.

Golden State barely survived Game 2 with a 109-104 victory, stealing a victory on the road to even the series up at 1-1. The odds still heavily favor the back-to-back defending champs, but they are headed back home at far less than 100 percent.

It’s unknown when and if Kevin Durant will return from his calf injury. Both Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney left Game 2 with injuries that make their Game 3 status unknown.

Toronto no longer has home-court advantage after allowing Golden State to start Sunday’s third quarter on an 18-0 run that catapulted the Warriors to a win. The Raptors have outscored the Warriors in six of the series’ eight quarters, and Toronto nearly mounted a comeback when Thompson was out in the final minutes of Game 2.

Durant will probably miss Game 3, and his return for Game 4 is in question. If Thompson can’t play or isn’t quite 100 percent Wednesday night, it could give Toronto the perfect opportunity to regain control of the series.

Kawhi Leonard gives the Raptors the best player in the series as long as Durant remains sidelined. He’ll arguably be the No.1 player even if Durant steps on the court for the first time since May 8. The 2014 NBA Finals MVP is averaging 28.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 17.0 field-goal attempts per game.

Toronto’s role players had the advantage in Game 1 when Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Fred VanVleet were all incredibly efficient. They weren’t nearly as productive in Game 2, and Golden State’s three stars carried them to a big road win.

Thompson had 25 points on 17 shots Sunday. Draymond Green had a huge bounce-back performance, stepping up on the defensive end and coming one assist shy of a triple-double while facilitating the offense. Stephen Curry scored 23 points, and he could be relied on even more in Game 3.

The Warriors’ depth has been an issue this series, and it will prevent them from putting the Raptors away in five games. Injury concerns could hang over Golden State for the remainder of the series.

The Raptors aren’t going to make quick work of the champs. Taking one game at Oracle Arena next week would have to be considered a win for them.

We’ve got ourselves the most competitive finals in three years, and it’s not going to be decided anytime soon.