TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors will play in the NBA Finals, a Canadian basketball success story 24 years in the making.
Kawhi Leonard poured in 27 points and hauled down a game-high 17 rebounds to lead the Raptors to a thrilling 100-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that clinched the Eastern Conference finals series 4-2.
Kyle Lowry, playing through the constant pain of a sprained thumb, had 17 points and eight assists, and grabbed the game ball after the final buzzer sounded on what was Toronto's biggest comeback of this post-season.
Pascal Siakam had 18 points, while Fred VanVleet finished with 14.
The road doesn't get any easier for Toronto. The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors await after dispatching the Portland Trail Blazers in four games in the west final almost a week ago. The Finals tip off in Toronto on Thursday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, favoured to win the league MVP after leading the Bucks to a league-best 60-win season - two better than Toronto - had 21 points and 11 boards, while Brook Lopez had 18.