Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors is getting underway at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
Halifax-born singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan performed Canada’s national anthem, while Pat Monahan of pop-rock act Train sang The Star Spangled Banner.
Thousands of fans are gathered in Toronto’s Jurassic Park to watch their team attempt to win their first NBA championship.
The Raptors lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and have another chance at claiming their first NBA championship tonight.
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8 p.m.
Love of the Raptors has translated into record spending in bars in Canada.
Payments firm Moneris says spending in the Greater Toronto Area was up 95 per cent during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, compared with the same day last year.
Nationally, spending jumped 63 per cent as fans gathered to watch the Raptors play against the Golden State Warriors in Toronto.
The city that saw the biggest spending increase during Game 5, which the Raptors lost by one point, was Edmonton, with a 279 per cent jump.
Game 6 of the NBA Finals is tonight in Oakland, Calif.