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'Craziest moment ever': Jurassic Park roars after Game 7 win

From the view of Raptors fans, the ups and downs from an unforgettable night in Jurassic Park.

The ups and downs from an unforgettable night in Toronto

James Wattie ·
Toronto Raptors fans cheer on their team outside Scotiabank Arena. (James Wattie/CBC)

It was an unforgettable night inside and outside Scotiabank Arena.

Rain and wind kept the crowd in Jurassic Park smaller than normal, but they still roared loud as ever.

Here's the night in their words:

'This picture is a preview'

Before the game, Raptors fan Mark Sosa said the photo of Kawhi Leonard dunking on the Philadelphia 76ers will be a preview of what's to come. Kawhi Leonard would hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer. (James Wattie/CBC)

Minutes before tip-off, Mark Sosa believed he knew how the game was going to end.

"This picture is a preview of what's going to happen in Game 7. Raptors in 7. Bucks be ready. Let's go!"

It was a memorable Mother's Day for Colleen Bell. She and her son, Mark, travelled to Toronto from Hamilton for both the earlier Blue Jays game and the Raptors/76ers Game 7.

"There's so much excitement. Yeah I'm going to be tired tomorrow but oh well. It's Game 7 baby!"

Colleen Bell, right, and her son Mark travelled from Hamilton to watch Game 7. (James Wattie/CBC)

Half-time

Twenty-four minutes into the game, the players and fans both inside and outside Scotiabank Arena got a moment to breathe.

Shevone White said despite it still being a close game, he wasn't going to lose faith.

"I'm feeling good. I'm feeling confident. I think the Raptors got this tonight. Game 7 is ours!"

Shevone White watches Game 7 of the Toronto Raptors/Philadelphia 76ers series outside Scotiabank Arena. (James Wattie/CBC)

'It's too back and forth'

With the 76ers clawing back, Colleen Bell was feeling a little uneasy.

"They need more points. Just a cushion. I'd feel a little better with a cushion. It's too back and forth. Win, lose. Win, lose."

Adam Siddiq, left, says watching Kawhi Leonard's series-winning shot was "the craziest moment ever." (James Wattie/CBC)

The shot

While the cold and rain kept many in Jurassic Park stationary for most of the game, that could not be said for Adam Siddiq and his group of friends.

After every Raptors bucket, there was yelling and dancing from the group standing closest to the giant video screen outside Scotiabank Arena.

The dancing and excitement in Jurassic Park stopped, but only for a moment, as the Raptors inbounded the ball with just 4.2 seconds left in the tied-up game.

Kawhi Leonard grabbed the pass from Marc Gasol, drove it to the corner closest to his team's bench and put up a shot that Raptors fans will remember for years to come.

For Siddiq, it was a "top three moment" for him.

"I saw it go up. Everybody around me just started jumping and I was like ah, that's not going in. It bounced twice, then fell and that was the craziest moment ever."

And as for next round's match-up with the Milwaukee Bucks?

"Kawhi's going to stop [Bucks forward] Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. Raptors in 4."

The Eastern Conference Finals begin Wednesday in Milwaukee.

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