Toronto Raptors wins first championship in NBA Finals debut
2019-06-14
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) lifts up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after being Golden State Warriors for the NBA Championship in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. iN Oakland, California on June 13, 2019. [Photo by Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports]
OAKLAND, Calif. - Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors captured Canada's first NBA championship with their most remarkable road win yet in the franchise's NBA Finals debut, outlasting the battered and depleted two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors 114-110 on Thursday night in a Game 6 for the ages that spoiled a sensational send-off at Oracle Arena.
Stephen Curry missed a contested 3-pointer in the waning moments before Golden State called a timeout it didn't have, giving Leonard a technical free throw with 0.9 seconds left to seal it. Leonard then got behind Andre Iguodala for a layup as the buzzer sounded, but it went to review and the basket was called off before Leonard's two free throws. That only delayed the celebration for a moment.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, bottom left, reacts with forward Jordan Bell, top left, and center DeMarcus Cousins (0) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors in Oakland, California on June 13, 2019. [Photo/IC]
Curry walked away slowly, hands on his head on a night Splash Brother Klay Thompson suffered a left knee injury and departed with 30 points.
Leonard scored 22 and Kyle Lowry had 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrate winning the NBA Championship over the Golden State Warriors against game six of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on June 13, 2019. [Photo by Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports]
