Durant gagawing inspirasyon ng Warriors para makahirit ng Game 7

OAKLAND -- Gagawing inspirasyon si injured teammate Kevin Durant at nahaharap sa isang emotional must-win game, sasandig ang Golden State Warriors sa kanilang ‘fighting spirit ‘ para makapuwersa ng Game Seven sa NBA Finals.

Lalabanan ng Warriors, hangad ang kanilang ikatlong sunod na korona at ikaapat sa huling limang seasons, ang Toronto Raptors sa Game Six bukas sa Oracle Arena.

Kung makakatabla ang Golden State sa 3-3 ay ibabalik ang Game Seven sa Toronto.

“We’re going to have to will ourselves for another 48 minutes to stay alive,” sabi ni Warriors guard Stephen Curry. “And whatever it’s going to take from every single guy in our jersey. I don’t know if there’s going to be a speech in the locker room, if there’s going to need to be words at all. We understand the moment and I think we can rally.”

Halos isang buwan nagpahinga si Durant, ang 2017 at 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, dahil sa kanyang right calf injury bago bumalik sa Game Five noong Lunes na nakatulong sa 106-105 paglusot ng two-time defending champions laban sa Raptors.

Ngunit sa second quarter ay nagkaroon si Durant ng right Achilles tendon injury.

“We’ll be suiting up in front of Oracle Arena and with the amazing atmosphere and opportunity to play for him, and to kind of honor the sacrifice he made in terms of putting his body on the line,” wika ni Curry. “We’re going to give everything we got. We’re going to fight. We’re going to compete.”

Kagaya ni Curry, ibibigay din ni guard Klay Thompson ang lahat para sa kanyang sariling tribute kay Durant.

“It obviously inspires you to play harder knowing your best player can’t be out there,” ani Thompson. “You think of him every time you dive for a loose ball or go for a rebound, because I know him and I know how bad he wants to be out there.”

Isa lamang sa 34 koponan na nabaon sa 1-3 butas sa NBA Finals ang nagtuluy-tuloy sa pag-angkin sa titulo at ito ay nangyari noong 2016 noong bande­rahan ni Le­Bron James ang Cleveland Cavaliers para talunin ang Warriors, 4-3.

Tatlong koponan naman ang nakapuwersa ng Game Seven.

Papantayan naman ng Raptors ang emosyon ng Warriors para tuluyan nang makopo ang kauna-una­hang NBA crown ng Toronto.