Thousands Crowd Streets Around Toronto to Cheer on the Raptors in Playoff Game

Toronto Raptors fans celebrate outside the Scotiabank Arena at what's dubbed "Jurassic Park," at the end of their teams NBA finals debut against the Golden State Warriors, winning 118-109, in Toronto on May 30, 2019. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press)

TORONTO—Thousands of fans in the Toronto area took to the streets to cheer on the Raptors as the city hosts the NBA Finals for the first time.

Tipoff between the Raptors and Golden State Warriors started at 9 p.m. ET, but lineups outside the Scotiabank Arena to fill “Jurassic Park” started forming hours before.

The square hit its capacity of 6,000 people, forcing police to shut down nearby streets for the overflow of fans.

West of Toronto, Peel police said about 20,000 people formed to cheer on the Raptors at Celebration Square in Mississauga, ON., including their own officers.

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) dunks during late second half action in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference final in Milwaukee against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, May 23, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn)

In Burlington, ON., a large group of spectators watched the game outside, applauding every time the Raptors scored. The city announced it was shutting down streets around the area dubbed #BurlassicPark because of larger than expected crowds.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Raptors, approved outdoor viewing spaces for NBA Finals games in cities across the country prior to Game 1.

The Raptors won 118-109 in Game 1.

Game 2 of the Finals is Sunday at Scotiabank Arena.

Playoff Ticket Auction Raises $20K for Family of Hit and Run Victim

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment says a pair of NBA Game 1 playoff tickets auctioned off to support an employee whose son was the victim of a hit and run sold for more than $20,000.

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment says the winning bid Thursday for the tickets was $20,500.

Paramount Fine Foods CEO Mohamad Fakih is also pledging to donate his $10,000 bid despite losing out on the tickets to Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Radiul Chowdhury, who is four, was critically injured when he was struck by a motorcycle Sunday afternoon.

The boy’s father, Ruhul Chowdhury, works for MLSE.

Four-year-old Radiul Chowdhury was walking on May 26 with one of his parents in Toronto's east end when he ended up on the roadway and was struck by a motorcycle. (GoFundMe)

The company says all the money raised from the auction, which began Tuesday night and closed Thursday at noon, will be directly donated to the Chowdhury family.

Toronto police say two people are now in custody after a 32-year-old woman from Markham, ON., turned herself in.

She’s been charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily harm.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on Monday and faces charges including leaving the scene, driving with an improper licence, and driving without insurance.