TORONTO (AP) The Latest from the NBA Finals and Thursday’s Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors (all times local):
2:25 p.m.
Golden State star Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 of the NBA Finals with his strained calf muscle, and Game 2 might not be in his plans either.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr says that ”it’s a long shot” that Durant will be able to practice with the team in Toronto before Game 2 of the title series against the Raptors. Kerr has said that Durant won’t be back in a game until he practices with the team.
So that means Durant seems unlikely to return before Game 3 – at the earliest.
Kerr says Durant has been doing some on-court workouts, but there still is no concrete plan for when the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals MVP can rejoin practices. Durant was hurt in Game 5 of the Warriors’ second-round series against Houston.
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11:10 a.m.
Fans in Toronto are ready and eager for their city to play host to its first NBA Finals game.
Crowds began building outside Jurassic Park – the square outside Scotiabank Arena – shortly after sunrise Thursday, or about 15 hours before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Raptors and the Golden State Warriors.
Former Toronto star Chris Bosh, who is working with Canadian broadcaster TSN for the series, also arrived there Thursday morning to greet and chat with some fans.
Officials say more than 5,000 fans will be in the square for the game, watching on big screens. Other similar watch parties are planned around the city for those not lucky enough to grab a ticket to watch inside the arena.
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