In a pulsating game played out at the Oracle Arena, the Raptors held their nerves to edge out the Warriors 114-110, with the hard fought win clinched literally in the final moments.
The maiden NBA title for Raptors was a historic moment in Canadian sports as it marked the first championship for a Canadian sports franchise in the NBA, NHL, MLB or NFL since the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Canadiens each won titles in 1993.
The Raptors looked to wrap up the title in Game 5 of the finals on Monday night but they were defied through a spree of three-pointers by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, who helped the Warriors stave off elimination.
The Raptors had already squandered a great opportunity to win the best-of-seven series, falling at home, 106-105, after winning three of the first four games. In Game 5, the Warriors staged a brilliant recovery thanks to 57 points from Thompson and Steph Curry courtesy their spectacular 3-point shooting.
It’s been a 24-year climb to the top of the mountain, one that was filled with a lot more lows than highs, especially in the playoffs. After the Raps were eliminated for the third straight year by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers last spring, team president Masai Ujiri knew he had to act.