Five takeaways from Toronto Raptors commanding Game 4 win

Another infamous Golden State third quarter

Throughout this Golden State dynasty, the Warriors have used monster third quarters to demoralize opponents. Since Durant’s arrival, the Warriors have been the best third quarter team in the NBA every single season.

Toronto experienced what a Golden State avalanche feels like earlier this series, in Game 2.

All of this makes it extremely ironic that a horrendous Golden State third quarter might be the real closing punch to this era.

Of course, Toronto still needs to pull out one more victory, but the Warriors really needed this game. They needed a monster third quarter more than ever. Instead, it’s the Raptors who came away with the big run.

After missing anything and everything during the first half, Toronto came out guns blazing. The Raptors shot 12-23 from the field (52%), 5-7 from three (71%), and 8-8 from the line (hopefully you don’t need that %), en route to a 37-point quarter.

The Warriors went cold from the field while turning it over five times.

Curry, in particular, couldn’t find a rhythm. Fred VanVleet — now the owner of a nice shiner and chipped tooth — started the second half and really locked in. His defense on Curry has been one of the key factors in this Finals series.

On the other end, it was the Raptors superstar who ignited the run. Kawhi Leonard dropped 17 points, scoring just four less than the Warriors did as a whole. Toronto, as a team, finished the Warriors off in the third.