The Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 (100-94) and qualified for their first-ever NBA Finals.
Despite being down 2-0 after Game 2, Toronto made an epic come-back in the series (4-2) and will now face the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
In the process, they become the first team from outside the United States to compete in the Finals with Game 1 taking place in Toronto in the early hours of Friday morning.
The Raptors turned things around twice in the game (18-31, 63-78) and earned the victory. They went on a 26-3 run in the third and fourth quarter, led by eight points (89-81) and never looked back.
On the other hand, the Bucks missed some crucial shots in the final minutes and came up short. Milwaukee ended the season in disappointment, after finishing the regular season with the best record.
Kawhi Leonard made an impressive double-double for the winners (27 points, 17 rebounds); three more players scored in double figures for Toronto.
Six players scored in double figures for the losing squad, with Giannis Antetokounmpo having a team-high 21 points.
The NBA Finals will start next Thursday (May 30), with the Raptors having the home-court advantage.
It’s a first ever Finals appearance for NBA rookie head coach Nick Nurse, who took the reigns last summer.
Nurse was originally appointed as the assistant to former coach Dwane Casey in 2013. Casey was sacked in June, despite leading the Raptors to a franchise-record 59 wins and after winning the NBA Coach of the Year.
For Nurse, it marks the latest chapter in what has been a fairytale story that saw him learn the trade in the British Basketball League.
Nurse coached the Derby Storm, Birmingham Bullets, Manchester Giants, London Towers and Brighton Bears in the late 90s-early 00s.
He led the Bullets, Giants and Bears to the league title and twice won the BBL coach of the year award.
He has been quoted in saying that whilst in the BBL, he worked with a budget of around £100,000 [€113,400] with each BBL side.
