Raptors stake long-term claim to north

NBA commissioner Adam Silver invoked the name of James Naismith, the Canadian inventor of basketball, as he opened his annual press conference ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, but said the growth of the game will not include another franchise north of the border in the near future.

Silver called the opener of the best-of-seven championship series between the Raptors and Golden State Warriors a “homecoming of sorts” for the sport, 128 years after Naismith — born and raised in Almonte, Ont. — came up with the indoor game to keep young people occupied on cold days. But the cross-country surge of Raptors fandom, ignited long before the league knew it would be hosting the…