CLEVELAND – Regardless that he was wearing camouflage, there was no missing Arno Yellowman at Rocket Arena.
Yellowman was decked out head-to-toe in a camo-coloured Raptors costume before the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 126-113 win over Toronto in Game 1 of their NBA playoff series. Yellowman made the trip from Sarnia, Ont., to cheer on the Raptors against the hometown Cavaliers.
“‘It just got here together in sooner or later, and here it’s,” said Yellowman of the homemade costume, adding that he had been a fan “perpetually.”
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He was certainly one of many Raptors supporters available for the matinee that kicked off the league’s 2026 playoffs.
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“We got here down with about 50 people from Toronto this morning,” said Colin Woods, standing beside friend Jevon Minott on the concourse pre-game.
“I’ve been a fan for so long as I can remember,” said Minott. “I suppose fully in since 2009.”
Fouad Suleiman also made the five-hour drive from Toronto for the sport.
“It’s an excellent trip, a fast trip,” said Suleiman. “Less expensive here to look at the sport, after all, so we wanted to return out and support.
“It’s loads of fun.”
Not every Raptors fan at the sport was from southern Ontario. Carson Whitaker made the trip north from Dayton, Ohio.
“Once I was younger, I liked dinosaurs, and it’s just evolved into me loving basketball after which loving the game 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 at all times 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.
© 2026 The Canadian Press