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| In quiet "Spurs"-like fashion, the Spurs won the NBA Title. |
The Raptors had their best game of the series, with the lead up for grabs in the 3rd Quarter, but the Spurs regained control and succeeded at a 4-0 stranglehold to this series.
Once again, the Spurs came out strong winning the first quarter 33-18. Toronto would recover somewhat in the 2nd Quarter, but the Spurs won the third 28-21 and held off the desperate home team 22-14 in an unremarkable final period that had most fans heading for the exits, an underwhelming turnout to the team's first trip to the Finals during the era of dominance by LeBron James.
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| Pau Gasol played well in the Finals. |
The Spurs shot 50% and claimed the glass 46-31, including 10 second chance opportunities that crippled any hopes for momentum by Toronto. Both teams were sloppy, but the Spurs had 11 steals and 9 blocks. In the season-ending defeat, Kyle Lowry had 25 points, making 4/7 from long range.
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| DeRozan's Raptors got swept in four, one-sided games. |
DeMar DeRozan had 19 points, but went 0-3 from long range. Norman Powell went scoreless from the field and Serge Ibaka's presence was not felt on the boards, finishing with only 13 points. Toronto's bench was not much help, either, and their other starter, CJ Miles, shot just 2/8. Its young big men, Poetl & Siakam, had a relatively quiet night, making the outcome a near certainty.
Pau Gasol had 26 points with 13 rebounds on 84% shooting. Despite Kawhi Leonard's heroic play throughout the playoffs, Gasol took the Finals MVP honors once again with 2 blocks. Leonard had 22 points with 4 steals. Iman Shumpert capped off a strong Finals performance with 14 points, 3 steals and 7 rebounds. Jeremy Lamb had 8 points, Davis Bertans had 6; Bismack Biyombo denied 3 blocks with 7 rebounds. Patty Mills had 17 points, making a trio of daggers from deep.
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| Coach Popovich & Tony Parker did it again! |
A season that saw prospects improve, the old guard challenge the new, and everything else in-between comes to its rightful close: a 7th championship in 8 seasons for the ageless Spurs.
