Fans travel to support Raptors in Cleveland for playoff opener against Cavaliers

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“We came down with about 50 people from Toronto this morning,” said Colin Woods, standing beside friend Jevon Minott on the concourse pre-game.

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“I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember,” said Minott. “I guess fully in since 2009.”

Fouad Suleiman also made the five-hour drive from Toronto for the game.

“It’s a good trip, a quick trip,” said Suleiman. “Much cheaper here to watch the game, of course, so we wanted to come out and support.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

Not every Raptors fan at the game was from southern Ontario. Carson Whitaker made the trip north from Dayton, Ohio.

“When I was younger, I liked dinosaurs, and it’s just evolved into me loving basketball and then loving the sport and watching the Raptors my whole life,” he said.

“It’s exciting. I’ve never been to a playoff game. I’ve never seen the Raptors in person, I’ve always seen the Cavs and (Indiana) Pacers in person.”

Games 2 is in Cleveland on Monday, with Toronto hosting Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and April 26.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press