Raptors make history by dethroning Warriors to win first-ever NBA title

An NBA history was made Friday after Toronto Raptors dethroned defending champions Golden State Warriors to win their first-ever championship title.

The Toronto team defeated the Oakland side 114-110 to emerge champions.

Kawhi Leonard was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), averaging 28.5 points, as the Raptors won the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Leonard, formerly at San Antonio Spurs, joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players to be named the NBA Finals’ MVP with two different teams.

“This is why I play basketball; this is what I work hard for,” said Leonard after his side clinched a first title in their 24-year history.

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? GAME 6 FINAL SCORE ?

The @Raptors (4-2) win Game 6 on the road and are the 2019 NBA Champions! #WeTheNorth 114#StrengthInNumbers 110

Kyle Lowry: 26 PTS, 10 AST, 7 REB
Pascal Siakam: 26 PTS, 10 REB
Fred VanVleet: 22 PTS, 5 3PM
Kawhi Leonard: 22 PTS
Serge Ibaka: 15 PTS pic.twitter.com/4mtvQZEeJA

— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2019

The Warriors, who had won three of the past four NBA titles, were without the injured Kevin Durant and lost Klay Thompson to cruciate knee ligament damage in the third quarter of the game.

Steph Curry had a chance to tie the series with a missed three-pointer when the Warriors trailed 111-110, before Leonard sealed the victory for the visitors.

The Raptors become the first Canadian club side to win a major North American sports title since the Toronto Blue Jays captured Major League Baseball’s World Series in 1993.

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