OAKLAND - During their five-year run, the Warriors have been a safe bet to provide a good game when their backs are against the wall.
That did not happen in Game 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals Friday night, as the Warriors lost 105-92 to the Toronto Raptors and now find themselves down three-games-to-one in the series.
In what could be the final game at Oracle Arena, the Warriors laid an egg, squandering an 11-point first-half lead as Kawhi Leonard dominated throughout.
Since 2015, the Warriors have stood high above the NBA mountaintop with little opposition. Now, facing a closeout game Monday night in Toronto, that reign could come to an end.
Here are your takeaways from Game 4:
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Third quarter flipped the game
After trailing for much of the contest, Toronto outscored the Warriors 37-21 in the third quarter.
Leonard scored 17 of his game-high 36 points in the frame, taking the life out of the champs on their home floor. More disturbing is that Golden State got demolished in a quarter they've historically owned.
With the world watching, the Warriors might have watched their season slip away in the third quarter.
Kawhi Not
For much of the postseason, the Raptors' success has been directly tied to Leonard. On Friday, he delivered again, finishing with 36 points, 12 rebounds and two assists.
With Kevin Durant still out due to a strained right calf, Leonard has been the best player in this year's postseason, averaging 30.9 points, 4.0 assists and 9.0 rebounds in 21 games.
In his first season in Toronto, Leonard has taken the Raptors to heights not seen in Canadian basketball. A repeat performance in Game 5 could clinch the Raptors' first NBA title.
Boogie struggles
In a game the Warriors needed a post presence, DeMarcus Cousins did not provide the required performance, finishing with 6 points. Cousins missed several defensive assignments, forcing Warriors coach Steve Kerr to opt instead for the services of Andrew Bogut and Kevon Looney.
It's hard not to feel for Cousins, who signed with the Warriors for this moment only to have his season derailed by injuy. Two months ago - in just his second career postseason game - he tore his right quad muscle before working his way back into the lineup for the Finals.
With the series shifting back to Canada, a change may need to be made in the lineup.
