Friday 31 May 2019 15:50, UK
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry conceded that the Toronto Raptors deserved to win Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The hosts triumphed 118-109 at ScotiaBank Arena, powered by 32 points from Pascal Siakam on what was a career-high scoring night for the Cameroonian.
And Curry, whose Warriors are contending to win a third successive title, admitted that the better team won.
"At the end of the day they outplayed us," the two-time league MVP said. "There's no other way to say it. They did what they're supposed to do and took care of home court in the first game.
"Obviously the bad is we're down 0-1 but it's not the end of the world. (There's been) new experiences for us all the way through. We've proven our resiliency and ability to win games that we need to and kind of answer the bell and learn from nights like tonight.
"Key call-outs are fast-break points that they got, whether it was a make or a miss for us, a couple of sloppy turnovers that really didn't kill us but just sort of added to their momentum.
"Obviously, Pascal (Siakam) had an amazing game, found a bucket pretty much wherever he was at. All five guys (have) got to do a better job of being physical, being alert and we'll be alright."
"No matter what our sights were coming in, it's a long series and Game 2 is an opportunity for us to right the wrongs and get a big win and go back home."
In the other four Finals this Warriors team have played in, they've always played at Oracle Arena first and Draymond Green admits the fervent atmosphere in Toronto might have played a part in the Warriors below-par showing.
"I think that it was obviously a different feel," Green said. "We have always started the Finals at home, but we are relishing this opportunity.
"At the end of the day you got to come on the road and win one. So that's still the mission, we got to win one game on the road and I like where we are.
"We didn't play very well tonight at all and we still had a chance the entire game. And it was a great atmosphere.
"This is a team or a city that hasn't seen a Finals ever here, so we expected it to be a great atmosphere and it was. But we can still play better and I know we will."
Game 2 takes place in Toronto in the early hours of Monday morning (1am) live on Sky Sports Arena
