The Toronto Raptors will be hoping to go where no side has been before and open up a two-game lead over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday.
The Raptors won Game 1 on Thursday night, becoming the first team to win the first game of the Finals against Golden State in five years. In each of the last four years, the Warriors held home advantage and began by winning the series opener.
This season, however, they do not have that luxury and slipped in Toronto. Pascal Siakam powered the Raptors to a 118-109 win, finishing with 32 points on 14-for-17 from the field, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Here's everything you need to know about the second game of the series.
When and where is Game 2?
The second game of the NBA Finals tips off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 2, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The series will then move to the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, for Games 3 and 4, before returning to Canada for the eventual Game 5.
TV channel
As it's been the case since 2003, ABC exclusively broadcasts every game of the NBA Finals. Its broadcast team for this year is Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. Meanwhile, ESPN's NBA Countdown crew will consist of Michelle Beadle, Jalen Rose, Paul Pierce and Stan Van Gundy.
In Canada, coverage of the series is split between Sportsnet One and The Sports Network, which will broadcast Game 2.
Live stream
A live stream of Game 2 will be available on Watch ESPN, both on desktop and via the mobile app, as well as fuboTV. Both platforms will also offer a live stream for every game of the Finals.
Odds
According to data compiled by Oddshark, the Raptors are 1.5 point favorites, while the over/under bar is set at 215.
Toronto was a 1.5 point favorite in Game 1 and won by nine points, but Golden State remains a 7/10 favorite to win a third consecutive title.
The Raptors, meanwhile, are 6/4 to clinch a maiden title after winning Game 1, compared to 23/10 before the series began.
Form
Game 1 was the third time the two teams met this season and Toronto has won every single time.
"We know that they're human," Raptors start Kawhi Leonard was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
"They're a great basketball team, talented players, high basketball-IQ players. You just got to go out there and compete, take the challenge."
The loss in the series opener was only the Warriors' second defeat in the last 33 games in which Stephen Curry was on the court and Kevin Durant was not.
The reigning two-time NBA Finals MVP set to miss out Game 2, but Steve Kerr isn't particularly concerned.
"It doesn't matter until he's out there," the Warriors coach told CBS Sports after Game 1. "So if he's out there, he's pretty good, but if he's not out there we play with the guys we have and we have got enough."
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more
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