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Raptors bring first NBA title back to Canada

Posted at 11:50 PM, Jun 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-13 23:50:39-04

Despite facing a hobbled Golden State Warriors squad on Thursday, the Toronto Raptors were tested by the two-time defending champs Golden State Warriors.

The Raptors showed the mettle of a champion, coming back in the fourth quarter to defeat the Warriors 114-110 to win the NBA Finals 4-2.

The Raptors nearly made a fatal error in the final 10 seconds after a turnover, but Stephen Curry's 3-point attempt missed. The Warriors then tried to save the basketball, but did not have a timeout, sealing Toronto's victory.

The Warriors entered the game one day after learning star forward Kevin Durant tore his Achilles. Even without Durant, the Warriors still had enough star-power to compete for another title. And the Warriors went toe-to-toe with the Raptors, leading for much of Thursday's game.

But late in the third quarter, Golden State's Klay Thompson took an awkward fall. He remained in the game briefly to shoot a pair of free throws after originally going to the locker room. After the free throws, Thompson went back to the locker room. Moments later, the Warriors announced he would not return.

Despite missing the entire fourth quarter, Thompson led the Warriors with 30 points.

Thursday's game marked the final one in Oakland. The Golden State Warriors are moving across the Bay Bridge to a new arena in San Francisco next year.