Watch: Sizzling Siakam leads Raptors over Warriors in NBA Finals
Powered by 32 points from Cameroonian forward Pascal Siakam, the upstart Toronto Raptors defeated the defending champion Golden State Warriors 118-109 in Thursday's opening game of the NBA Finals.
Speedy Siakam made 14-of-17 shots from the floor in the biggest scoring playoff game of his career while Kawhi Leonard added 23 points and both players pulled down eight rebounds and passed out five assists.
"For me it was just running and whatever basket I can get at the rim," Siakam said. "Getting some easy buckets in transition, something I haven't really been able to do all playoffs."
Siakam scored the most points in an NBA Finals debut since injured Golden State star Kevin Durant in 2012, and he was the most accurate-shooting 30-point scorer in the finals since Shaquille O'Neal in 2004.
"Siakam was brilliant. He was hitting shots from everywhere," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Their defense was great and it wasn't our best night. We just got outplayed."
Spanish center Marc Gasol added 20 points and Kyle Lowry had nine assists for the Raptors, who seized the lead in the best-of-seven championship series that resumes Sunday in Toronto.
"We're playing an amazing team," Siakam said.