TORONTO — They were so close. The Golden State Warriors’ dynasty was a moment away from being extinguished. Toronto’s Kyle Lowry even said after the game that the ball “felt great out of my hand.” But as the ball began its arc — and those standing inside Scotiabank Arena trained their eyes on the round object headed for the rim, wondering if the N.B.A. was about to be changed for good — the launch looked a bit off.

Draymond Green got a fingertip — just one, mind you — on Lowry’s left baseline jumper at the last second on Monday night, altering the shot just enough to deny the Toronto Raptors their first N.B.A. championship, at least for now. In a game of inches, to use the old cliché, Lowry was one inch off, allowing the Warriors, somehow, to live to fight another day.

But it’s never really just one play, as Raptors guard Danny Green said in the locker room after the game: “It shouldn’t come down to the last clip. Obviously, disappointing.”

With five minutes left in the game, the Raptors had the Warriors on the ropes, thanks once again to Kawhi Leonard, who had struggled most of the night. He pulled up for a 3 to give the Raptors the lead, 96-95. Stephen Curry tried to answer with his own step-back 3 on the other end. He missed. Leonard, smelling blood, scored again, this time near the rim. One 3-pointer and another pull-up midrange shot later by Leonard, and Toronto was up, 103-97, with 3 minutes 28 seconds left. (Lowry had a productive game, in spite of the missed jumper. He scored 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting with six assists.)