Author: Dan Wolken, USA TODAY

Game 5 of the NBA Finals will be a seminal moment for athletes everywhere: If you don’t look out for your best interests, who else will?

Kevin Durant left Game 5 in the second quarter after sustaining Achilles injury. He should have never played Monday.

Toronto breathes sigh of relief as forward Fred VanVleet cleared of concussion, will play in Game 5 on Monday.

Wishful thinking on Kevin Durant hasn’t done much for Warriors’ play, nor has it sped up healing of calf. Warriors failed from start on his status.

Once a coaching vagabond of basketball’s minor leagues, Nick Nurse proves NBA teams don’t need to keep recycling same names to find big-time coach.

There was desperation simmering under the surface in a must-win Game 4, and the Warriors probably played their last game ever at Oracle Arena.

The popular commissioner didn’t come down hard enough on Mark Stevens, failing to protect the NBA’s image and the players who are vulnerable.

Steph Curry was spectacular in Game 3, but it wasn’t enough for the injury-depleted Warriors to beat the Raptors.

With all the headwinds facing the Warriors now, winning this title may be enough to put Steve Kerr on the same tier as the best who’ve ever done it.

Toronto’s highly-paid point guard finally has reached the NBA Finals after 14 years in the trenches. But he needs to start making big plays.