Toronto Raptors make NBA history with first championship
The Toronto Raptors have won their first championship with a historic NBA Finals triumph over the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Ending the Warriors’ hopes of a three-peat, the Raptors took out a thrilling 114-110 win on Friday AEST in the last game to be played at Oakland’s famous Oracle Arena.
The contest ended in bizarre circumstances as the Warriors called a timeout despite having none left.
Toronto received a technical free throw and the ball, before a foul on the buzzer further delayed the Raptors’ celebrations.
Long-serving point guard Kyle Lowry set the tone for Toronto, scoring 15 points in the first quarter.
The 33-year-old was one of four Raptors players to score more than 20 points as Toronto became the first team based outside the US to win an NBA title.
“It’s surreal. I play basketball to provide for these two,” Lowry said, holding his children by his side.
“It’s been a long time coming. It’s crazy, it’s crazy right now.”
Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP for the second time in his career, having previously won the honour in 2014 as a member of the championship-winning San Antonio Spurs.
At the end of last season, Toronto sacked head coach Dwane Casey, replaced by first-year coach Nick Nurse, and traded franchise star DeMar DeRozan for Leonard and Danny Green in what proved to be gambles worth taking.
“My teammates, they did a great job of welcoming me with open arms,” the 27-year-old said on the podium.
“The management. They just told me to come out and play basketball.”
Leonard is just the third player in NBA history, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James, to be the Finals MVP for two teams.
Phantom timeout sparks late drama
With less than 10 seconds remaining, the Warriors trailed 111-110 and had one chance to take the lead.
But after a missed shot and a loose ball, Draymond Green picked up the ball and tried to call timeout.
The problem is the Warriors did not have a timeout, which gave the Raptors a free throw and possession.
Leonard made the free throw and the game was all but over.
Chaos after the Curry game-winning attempt and Draymond tries to call a timeout with none left…. pic.twitter.com/cRQIjZb53w
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) June 14, 2019
Draymond couldn’t win in either situation. You call the timeout (when you don’t have any) and give the Raptors the ball, or you let time run out.
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) June 14, 2019
Draymond calling that timeout and getting the tech was actually the smartest play he could make there. It’s probably over regardless but there’s still a chance now.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) June 14, 2019
Drake’s album cover is totally going to be a photo of Draymond calling timeout
— Jeremy Woo (@JeremyWoo) June 14, 2019
Kerr, Iguadola, and Green all call TIMEOUT w/ no timeouts left?! 😳🤦🏽♀️
— Tina Thompson (@IamTinaThompson) June 14, 2019
Earlier, Golden State, already missing Kevin Durant due to a ruptured Achilles suffered in Game 5, lost Klay Thompson to a left knee injury.
Thompson was in the midst of a 30-point game when he landed awkwardly after being fouled under the basket.
He miraculously ran back on to the court to complete his free throws, enabling a potential return, but he was soon ruled out of the game.
It was later confirmed Thompson had suffered a torn left ACL, with his 2019-20 season now in doubt.
