Toronto Raptors dethroned defending champion Golden State on Thursday, defeating Warriors 114-110 to win the NBA Finals and capture the first crown by a club from outside the United States.
Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam each scored 26 points while Kawhi Leonard and reserve Fred VanVleet both had 22 as Toronto won the best-of-seven series four games to two.
Leonard was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career after the first in 2014 with San Antonio, which traded him to Toronto last July.
Raptors became the first Canadian club to win a major North American sports title since the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays captured Major League Baseball’s World Series.
Raptors spoiled Warriors’ farewell appearance at Oracle Arena. Golden State’s home since 1971 will be replaced by a new $1 billion venue in San Francisco next season.
Klay Thompson scored 30 points to lead the Warriors but left the game with a left knee injury late in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on his left leg.
Latest setback
It was the latest setback for an injury-hit Golden State team that was already without two-time Kevin Durant, who returned in game five on Monday after being sidelined for a month only to suffer a ruptured right Achilles tendon.
Andre Iguodala added 22 points for the Warriors, Stephen Curry had 21 and Draymond Green contributed 11 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists.
Golden State had a final shot to win trailing 111-110 but Curry missed a 3-pointer and Green called a timeout when the team had none, setting up three final free throws by Leonard to seal the victory.
Warriors failed in their bid for a third consecutive title and to become the first team in 50 years to win four titles in five seasons.
Toronto’s triumph made this the first NBA Finals where road teams won five consecutive games.
The result : Toronto Raptors 114 (Pascal Siakam 26, Kyle Lowry 26, Kawhi Leonard 22) bt Golden State Warriors 110 (Klay Thompson 30, Andre Iguodala 22, Stephen Curry 21). Raptors win series 4-2 .
