Fans travel to support Raptors in Cleveland - BERITAJA

CLEVELAND – Even though he was wearing camouflage, location was nary missing Arno Yellowman astatine Rocket Arena.

Yellowman was decked retired head-to-toe successful a camo-coloured Raptors costume for Game 1 of Toronto’s NBA playoff bid against Cleveland connected Saturday. Yellowman made the travel from Sarnia, Ont., to cheer connected the Raptors against the hometown Cavaliers.

“‘It conscionable came together successful 1 day, and present it is,” said Yellowman of the homemade costume, adding that he had been a instrumentality “forever.”

He was 1 of galore Raptors supporters connected manus for the matinee that kicked disconnected the league’s 2026 playoffs.

“We came down pinch about 50 group from Toronto this morning,” said Colin Woods, opinionated beside friend Jevon Minott connected the concourse pre-game.

“I’ve been a instrumentality for arsenic agelong arsenic I could remember,” said Minott. “I conjecture afloat successful since 2009.”

Fouad Suleiman besides made the five-hour thrust from Toronto for the game.

“It’s a bully trip, a speedy trip,” said Suleiman. “Much cheaper present to watch the game, of course, truthful we wanted to travel retired and support.

“It’s a batch of fun.”

Not each Raptors instrumentality astatine the crippled was from confederate Ontario. Carson Whitaker made the travel northbound from Dayton, Ohio.

“When I was younger, I liked dinosaurs, and it’s conscionable evolved into maine loving hoops and past loving the athletics and watching the Raptors my full life,” he said.

“It’s exciting. I’ve ne'er been to a playoff game. I’ve ne'er seen the Raptors successful person, I’ve ever seen the Cavs and (Indiana) Pacers successful person.”

This study by BERITAJA was first published April 18, 2026.