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Fansided

Toronto Sports: 6 times fans crossed the line (on camera)

By Trevor Popoff

David Beckham #23 of the Los Angeles Galaxy removes streamers strewn on the pitch during CONCACAF Champions League game action against the Toronto FC. (Photo by Brad White/Getty Images)
David Beckham #23 of the Los Angeles Galaxy removes streamers strewn on the pitch during CONCACAF Champions League game action against the Toronto FC. (Photo by Brad White/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors tries to get the crowd to show their respect for an injured Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Caught up in the moment during the 2019 NBA Finals

While Toronto Raptors fans didn’t exuberantly litter the court with beers when Kevin Durant tore his Achilles in Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals, it was a tough scene nonetheless.

With a five point lead in the second quarter, Durant brought the ball up the floor. With Serge Ibaka draped all over him, Durant tried to get the ball into the paint. That’s when he felt the tear. As Durant limped off the floor and Ibaka took the ball the other way, Scotiabank Arena celebrated.

While the excitement in the building could have feasibly been for Ibaka’s breakaway scoring chance, the ensuing cheer when a hobbled Durant headed off the floor was a regrettable instance of fans getting caught up in the moment. Klay Thompson and Quinn Cook were visibly upset with the crowd, and Kyle Lowry and Danny Green commanded the fans to stop.

After the game, Steve Kerr acknowledged the cheering, and thanked Raptors players for quieting the crowd.

Although it was an unfortunate event, Raptors fans reverted back to their normally well-behaved selves soon after the game. One fan named Hamzah Moin set up a GoFundMe that raised $36,530 for the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation. Another fan sent flowers to the Warriors’ front office.

Given that he missed the entirety of the 2020 season, and the Raptors spent 2021 in Tampa, Durant has not returned to Toronto since the injury. Whenever he does make his return to Scotiabank Arena, something tells me he’ll be sure to have a 30-piece ready for the Raptors.

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