Board Man got his ring pic.twitter.com/NzUZgLM886
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 12, 2019
Clippers F Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto last night to face the Raptors in a game that "began with a raucous celebration" of his one-year stint in Canada. A video of "nearly two minutes documented his brilliance," and the "standing ovation that greeted him when he simply walked on the court for pre-game warmup was lovely" ( TORONTO STAR, 12/12 ). There were "multiple standing ovations," and the "biggest cheers came" when Raptors G Kyle Lowry gave Leonard his '19 championship ring. The video and ring presentation were "coupled with 'MVP' chants from the appreciative crowd" ( L.A. TIMES, 12/12 ).
Still, there was an "unmistakable coldness" to the night, which resulted in a Clippers win. The standing ovations were "more polite than deafening." The crowd's "embrace was respectful, but it hardly oozed warmth." The production from the home team "felt as obligatory as it did celebratory" ( TORONTO STAR, 12/12 ).
