There was a predictable sting that pained the Toronto Raptors after Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

They were so close.

And then they had to fly so far.

Whatever they were feeling after Monday nightB次元官网网址檚 loss to Golden State is in the past, which is consistent with the way the Raptors have tried to handle their business throughout playoffs. Game 6 of the title series B次元官网网址� one where the Raptors have outplayed the two-time defending champion Warriors B次元官网网址� is Thursday night, when Toronto will take a second shot at grabbing its first NBA title.

B次元官网网址淭he moment is the moment, but we still are staying in it,B次元官网网址� Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not too up, weB次元官网网址檙e not too down. WeB次元官网网址檙e just, B次元官网网址極ne game, hey, we lost it.B次元官网网址� Now weB次元官网网址檝e got to move on to the next one.B次元官网网址�

The next one B次元官网网址� the next chance to win the Larry OB次元官网网址橞rien Trophy B次元官网网址� has arrived.

Golden StateB次元官网网址檚 106-105 victory in Game 5 sent the series back to Oracle Arena, which the Raptors have basically turned into Jurassic Park West this season. The Raptors are 3-0 on the WarriorsB次元官网网址� home floor, all three of those wins coming by double digits, two of them in this series.

Thursday is the last NBA game thatB次元官网网址檒l be played at Oracle. The place will be rocking.

The Raptors wonB次元官网网址檛 mind whatsoever.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to be a little more tough-minded on the road,B次元官网网址� Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.

His team has been tough-minded everywhere.

Take away Golden StateB次元官网网址檚 18-0 run at Toronto to start the second half of Game 2 B次元官网网址� a game where the Warriors still needed a final-seconds 3-pointer from Andre Iguodala to close the win out B次元官网网址� and a 9-2 run to pull out a dramatic comeback victory for the champs in Game 5, also in Toronto, this series has largely been controlled by the Raptors.

Not many probably expected that to be the case.

Through five games, the Raptors have been outscored in only four of the 20 quarters. TheyB次元官网网址檝e won every fourth quarter, albeit by small margins. TheyB次元官网网址檝e struggled guarding Klay Thompson B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 20 for 35 from 3-point range in the series B次元官网网址� but the rest of the Warriors, Stephen Curry included, are being held to 33 per cent from beyond the arc.

And now the Warriors know Kevin DurantB次元官网网址檚 not coming back to help the cause.

B次元官网网址淭oronto is tough to guard because they have got a lot of passers and a lot of shooters and they put you in some difficult spots,B次元官网网址� Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. B次元官网网址淏ut everybody who came in (Monday) was prepared to play and they were flying around and rotating. We did everything we could to hang in the game on the road and we were able to pull it out. So we know thatB次元官网网址檚 what itB次元官网网址檚 going to take here as well.B次元官网网址�

Raptors coach Nick Nurse, to his credit, hasnB次元官网网址檛 changed his principles much during the playoffs. When his team was down 1-0 to Orlando, down 2-1 to Philadelphia and down 2-0 to Milwaukee, he kept insisting that the score of the series doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter until someone wins four games.

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Same rules apply now.

Up 3-1, now up 3-2, itB次元官网网址檚 still eyes on the prize B次元官网网址� even though the ultimate prize was seconds away from being in hand Monday.

B次元官网网址淭hey all hit you hard,B次元官网网址� Nurse said. B次元官网网址淟isten, IB次元官网网址檓 like anybody that was there. The outcome of that one changes things a little bit. But IB次元官网网址檒l say this: IB次元官网网址檓 absolutely thrilled to be coaching in another finals game. This is awesome.B次元官网网址�

One last win, and itB次元官网网址檒l be the most awesome night in Raptors history.

And the missed chance of Game 5 will be forgotten.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 want to dwell on it, you donB次元官网网址檛 want to harp on it, you donB次元官网网址檛 want to let it seep in or leak out or let it drain you, because that can be an emotional blow if you let it,B次元官网网址� Raptors guard Danny Green said. B次元官网网址淏ut we donB次元官网网址檛 want it to be an emotional blow to our team. We want to stay physically and mentally and emotionally confident and not doubt ourselves and understand that we know we can play better.B次元官网网址�

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press

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