Raptors rapture Warriors to clinch 2019 NBA Championship title

The Toronto Raptors made headlines on Thursday night when they beat Golden State Warriors to seal their first NBA title in their 24-year-old history at the Oracle Arena.

The Raptors also made history by becoming the first team outside the US to win the championship.

The Warriors went into the game seeking to win their third championship in a row and fourth in the last five years but suffered a dramatic defeat to the NBA’s lone Canadian team, 114 – 110 in Game 6 of the finals.

The Warriors came close to winning when Stephen Curry attempted a three-pointer over three defenders with 0.9 seconds left, but the ball rolled out of the rim, giving the Canadians a lifeline.

The Warriors missed the services of 30-year-old and two times NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant who was sidelined with a ruptured achilles tendon in Game 5 and lost Klay Thompson to injury later on.

24-year-old Kahwi Leonard was named the Finals MVP for the second time becoming the third player to win the award with more than one franchise, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.

Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry and forward Pascal Siakam ended the game with 26 points apiece, to culminate their impressive performance that night.