<p>Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points and the Toronto Raptors moved to the brink of their first NBA title Friday by beating defending champion Golden State 105-92 in the NBA Finals.</p>.<p>Serge Ibaka netted 20 points off the bench and Pascal Siakam added 19 for the Raptors, who grabbed a commanding 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series, which could end with game five Monday in Toronto.</p>.<p>The Raptors are one victory shy of the first crown in their 24-season history while the Warriors seek their third consecutive title and fourth in five seasons.</p>.<p>"Just (got to) be patient, come in focused and ready to play defense and make some shots," Leonard said. "As long as we win, I'm satisfied."</p>.<p>Only once in 34 chances in NBA Finals history has a team rallied from 3-1 down to win the title, that being in 2016 when LeBron James led Cleveland back to defeat the Warriors.</p>.<p>Leonard, who grabbed 12 rebounds in the game, scored 17 points in the third quarter when Toronto seized command, while Ibaka and Siakam's second-half surge helped ensure Golden State did not overtake them late.</p>.<p>The Warriors welcomed back guard Klay Thompson, averaging 19.5 points a game, who missed game three with a left hamstring strain, and reserve forward Kevon Looney, who had been declared done for the series due to a chest injury.</p>.<p>But the Warriors remained without playoff scoring leader Kevin Durant, out the past month with a right calf injury, and lacking him they were no match for the fast-moving Raptors.</p>.<p>Leonard opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers, giving the Raptors their first lead at 48-46.</p>.<p>Toronto closed the third quarter with a 20-6 run to seize a 79-67 lead entering the fourth quarter, Leonard scoring 11 and Ibaka adding seven in the pivotal span.</p>.<p>Fred VanVleet opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer for Toronto but was taken to the locker room moments later for seven stitches after a bloody gash was opened under his right eye when he was struck by the left elbow of Golden State's Shaun Livingston under the basket.</p>.<p>The Warriors got within 97-89 on a Curry 3-pointer with 2:56 remaining but came no closer.</p>.<p>It could have been the final game at 53-year-old Oracle Arena for the Warriors, who move into a new arena next season in San Francisco. The arena has been the club's home since 1971.</p>.<p>Defensive work dominated early, both teams struggling to make shots and combining for 13 first-half turnovers.</p>.<p>Leonard scored 14 points in the first quarter but the rest of the Raptors shot 1-for-13 and the Warriors, led by six points from Looney, jumped ahead 23-12 before Leonard scored five points in a 7-0 Toronto run.</p>.<p>Thompson caught fire in the second quarter, going 4-of-5 from the floor as Golden State led 46-42 at half-time.</p>
<p>Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points and the Toronto Raptors moved to the brink of their first NBA title Friday by beating defending champion Golden State 105-92 in the NBA Finals.</p>.<p>Serge Ibaka netted 20 points off the bench and Pascal Siakam added 19 for the Raptors, who grabbed a commanding 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series, which could end with game five Monday in Toronto.</p>.<p>The Raptors are one victory shy of the first crown in their 24-season history while the Warriors seek their third consecutive title and fourth in five seasons.</p>.<p>"Just (got to) be patient, come in focused and ready to play defense and make some shots," Leonard said. "As long as we win, I'm satisfied."</p>.<p>Only once in 34 chances in NBA Finals history has a team rallied from 3-1 down to win the title, that being in 2016 when LeBron James led Cleveland back to defeat the Warriors.</p>.<p>Leonard, who grabbed 12 rebounds in the game, scored 17 points in the third quarter when Toronto seized command, while Ibaka and Siakam's second-half surge helped ensure Golden State did not overtake them late.</p>.<p>The Warriors welcomed back guard Klay Thompson, averaging 19.5 points a game, who missed game three with a left hamstring strain, and reserve forward Kevon Looney, who had been declared done for the series due to a chest injury.</p>.<p>But the Warriors remained without playoff scoring leader Kevin Durant, out the past month with a right calf injury, and lacking him they were no match for the fast-moving Raptors.</p>.<p>Leonard opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers, giving the Raptors their first lead at 48-46.</p>.<p>Toronto closed the third quarter with a 20-6 run to seize a 79-67 lead entering the fourth quarter, Leonard scoring 11 and Ibaka adding seven in the pivotal span.</p>.<p>Fred VanVleet opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer for Toronto but was taken to the locker room moments later for seven stitches after a bloody gash was opened under his right eye when he was struck by the left elbow of Golden State's Shaun Livingston under the basket.</p>.<p>The Warriors got within 97-89 on a Curry 3-pointer with 2:56 remaining but came no closer.</p>.<p>It could have been the final game at 53-year-old Oracle Arena for the Warriors, who move into a new arena next season in San Francisco. The arena has been the club's home since 1971.</p>.<p>Defensive work dominated early, both teams struggling to make shots and combining for 13 first-half turnovers.</p>.<p>Leonard scored 14 points in the first quarter but the rest of the Raptors shot 1-for-13 and the Warriors, led by six points from Looney, jumped ahead 23-12 before Leonard scored five points in a 7-0 Toronto run.</p>.<p>Thompson caught fire in the second quarter, going 4-of-5 from the floor as Golden State led 46-42 at half-time.</p>