Excited and slightly anxious Raptors fans put their faith in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 only NBA franchise on Thursday as they waited hours in the rain for their team to take a second shot at winning this yearB次元官网网址檚 championship.

Supporters brought tents, tarps and umbrellas to a long lineup for Jurassic Park, the fan zone outside the teamB次元官网网址檚 arena in downtown Toronto, ahead of Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif. Some had camped out overnight to secure a spot, despite the dreary weather, and the crowd grew steadily through the day.

The Raptors currently lead the Warriors 3-2 in the best-of-seven series after losing by a single point on Monday. A win on Thursday would mean the Toronto team secures the title for the first time in franchise history B次元官网网址� a milestone fans said they wanted to take part in, even from a distance.

Daniel Zhang, who arrived from Markham, Ont., shortly after midnight with a tent, tarp and inflatable mattress, said he was skipping his high school prom to watch the game with fellow fans.

B次元官网网址淚f it goes to Game 7, either way this game is uncharted territory, both for me and every other fan here. ItB次元官网网址檚 an elimination game,B次元官网网址� said the 18-year-old. B次元官网网址淭his could be the last game of the season. It could be Kawhi (Leonard)B次元官网网址檚 last game as a Raptor, you never know.B次元官网网址�

Leonard, one of the RaptorsB次元官网网址� star players, will become a free agent in the off-season. Before being traded to Toronto by the San Antonio Spurs several reports indicated he wanted to play for one of the teams in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Others in the outdoor fan zone said the stakes will be higher than at MondayB次元官网网址檚 suspense-filled game, but stressed they remain confident in their team.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e making history soon,B次元官网网址� said Malique Stone, a longtime Raptors fan. Stone said he has maintained hope throughout the emotionally intense Finals by B次元官网网址渢rusting in the players and how theyB次元官网网址檙e playing.B次元官网网址�

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Another fan, Isabelle Leonardo-Cruz, said even a loss on Thursday B次元官网网址� which would mean a Game 7 in Toronto on Sunday B次元官网网址� wouldnB次元官网网址檛 shake her faith in the team.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of pressure, a lot more pressure than it is right now, but IB次元官网网址檓 still going to keep the same confidence, still going to have hope,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey can do it.B次元官网网址�

The Raptors B次元官网网址渞epresent Toronto as a whole,B次元官网网址� Cruz said, and supporting them is like being part of a community.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of like weB次元官网网址檙e part of the team even though weB次元官网网址檙e not,B次元官网网址� she said.

TorontoB次元官网网址檚 mayor, John Tory, donned his now-signature black-and-gold Raptors blazer to visit the gathering crowd Thursday morning and said he planned to return for the game in the evening.

B次元官网网址淚t is beyond comprehension that people could be down here, huddled under these makeshift tents, for hours on end, more than a day, overnight,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 cold, itB次元官网网址檚 rainy, itB次元官网网址檚 been such a terrible spring, but theyB次元官网网址檝e been here week after week, day after day, and theyB次元官网网址檙e the greatest fans in sports.B次元官网网址�

When asked about plans for a victory parade should the Raptors win, the mayor would only say that there are records of past parades for other teams and B次元官网网址渨e will dust that file off at the appropriate time.B次元官网网址�

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the downtown Scotiabank Arena and the Raptors franchise, had initially said it was considering moving the Jurassic Park crowds inside the arena due to the weather, but announced at 6 p.m. that it was moving ahead with the outdoor viewing party. Several nearby streets were shut down in anticipation of an overflow crowd.

Raptors fans elsewhere in the country also have a chance to watch the game among a mob of their peers.

Halifax was planning an outdoor block party, Montreal was shutting down two city blocks to allow people to cheer on the Raptors, and several cities in Ontario B次元官网网址� including Mississauga, Brampton, Kingston and London B次元官网网址� had viewing events planned.

Further west, Regina planned to show the game on a massive screen at the Saskatchewan RoughridersB次元官网网址� home stadium while in Edmonton, fans were heading to the Edmonton Expo Centre to watch the game. Select Cineplex Odeon theatres across the country were also offering free screenings of the game, which begins at 9 p.m. ET.

The Warriors are two-time defending NBA champions. A win by the Raptors on Thursday would mark the first for a Canadian team in one of the big four professional sports championships since the Toronto Blue Jays won the 1993 World Series.

Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press

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