NBA PLAYOFFS
2019 NBA playoffs: Cheerleaders, fans and mascots
USA TODAY
![May 25: Raptors fans brought Drake to Jurassic Park outside Scotiabank Arena for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/26/USAT/25b24e8c-d21c-4b4f-8676-dd204f6e1472-2019-05-25_NBA_fans2.jpg?crop=2885,2217,x283,y84&width=660&height=508&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 25: Raptors fans brought Drake to Jurassic Park outside Scotiabank Arena for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports![May 25: Raptors fans in Jurassic Park outside Scotiabank Arena were pumped up for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/26/USAT/bb62cf50-5cd8-48a9-bb20-da40974b64ef-2019-05-25_NBA_fans1.jpg?crop=3408,2561,x738,y0&width=660&height=496&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 25: Raptors fans in Jurassic Park outside Scotiabank Arena were pumped up for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports![May 21: Toronto Raptors fans pose for a photo outside of Scotiabank Arena prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/22/USAT/f85de91d-efa6-443d-9219-9382a0541062-USATSI_12755523.jpg?width=660&height=496&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 21: Toronto Raptors fans pose for a photo outside of Scotiabank Arena prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports![May 21: Toronto Raptors fans pose for a photo outside of Scotiabank Arena prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/22/USAT/64ff9b1f-7632-43e3-939b-d972828acbfa-USATSI_12755520.jpg?width=660&height=496&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 21: Toronto Raptors fans pose for a photo outside of Scotiabank Arena prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports![May 19: Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez bodyslams the Toronto Raptors mascot during warm-ups before Game 3.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/20/USAT/6fb6eb60-375a-44a9-b116-fea4f3e37568-USATSI_12742890.jpg?width=660&height=478&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 19: Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez bodyslams the Toronto Raptors mascot during warm-ups before Game 3.
Tom Szczerbowski, USA TODAY Sports![May 19: Toronto Raptors fans show their support prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/20/USAT/9bf5f5f1-89df-410a-918e-c9d317095b7c-USATSI_12742273.jpg?width=660&height=462&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 19: Toronto Raptors fans show their support prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Nick Turchiaro, USA TODAY Sports![May 19: A Toronto Raptors fan shows his support prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/20/USAT/bcd812df-7f2b-40b5-bd39-fc13580b2942-USATSI_12742277.jpg?width=463&height=660&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 19: A Toronto Raptors fan shows his support prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Nick Turchiaro, USA TODAY Sports![May 12: A Nuggets fan gets pumped up for Game 7 against the Blazers.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/13/USAT/d6aff13e-f1dd-4578-9650-36453d866ae2-2019-05-12_Fans1.jpg?crop=5058,3607,x292,y407&width=660&height=471&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 12: A Nuggets fan gets pumped up for Game 7 against the Blazers.
Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports![May 10: One fan was confident the Warriors would close out the Rockets in Game 6.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/11/USAT/16be0c65-b70b-4c0c-b166-db0ca6e2eec0-2019-05-10_Fans1.jpg?crop=3987,2893,x500,y0&width=660&height=479&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 10: One fan was confident the Warriors would close out the Rockets in Game 6.
Thomas B. Shea, USA TODAY Sports![May 9: The Blazers cheer team fires up the crowd during Game 6 against the nuggets in Portland.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/10/USAT/289a1935-9af7-4a03-a827-06bf860b3b6b-2019-05-09_Cheerleaders.jpg?crop=3816,2852,x95,y63&width=660&height=494&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 9: The Blazers cheer team fires up the crowd during Game 6 against the nuggets in Portland.
Troy Wayrynen, USA TODAY Sports![May 7: A Denver Nuggets fan dresses as the Joker for center Nikola Jokic in Game 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/08/USAT/b1c137c6-c99c-4cd5-bbdb-b461a4d1a306-USATSI_12663071.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 7: A Denver Nuggets fan dresses as the Joker for center Nikola Jokic in Game 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports![May 5: Blazers star Damian Lillard signs autographs prior to Game 4 against the Nuggets in Portland.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/06/USAT/1a9be027-0635-4eea-8606-bdefd489101b-2019-05-05_NBA_fans1.jpg?crop=2940,2325,x423,y151&width=660&height=522&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 5: Blazers star Damian Lillard signs autographs prior to Game 4 against the Nuggets in Portland.
Jaime Valdez, USA TODAY Sports![May 3: The Boston Celtics dancers perform during the first half of Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/05/04/USAT/860eee0f-d01e-42ee-9480-a01c32d4006f-USATSI_12639153.jpg?width=660&height=493&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
May 3: The Boston Celtics dancers perform during the first half of Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY SportsApril 29: Nuggets dancers perform during Game 1 against the Trail Blazers.
Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports![April 27: Nuggets dancers perform during Game 7 against the Spurs in Denver.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/28/USAT/52392c31-abac-431a-9f8f-894a3d5cad44-2019-04-27_Dancers1.jpg?crop=5568,3712,x0,y0&width=660&height=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 27: Nuggets dancers perform during Game 7 against the Spurs in Denver.
Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY SportsApril 26: Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor during Game 6 against the Warriors.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports![April 26: Clippers dancers perform during Game 6 against the Warriors at Staples Center.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/27/USAT/1037141f-6efc-4f57-8efd-cbf903970d27-USATSI_12596869.jpg?width=660&height=427&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 26: Clippers dancers perform during Game 6 against the Warriors at Staples Center.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY SportsApril 24: Warriors dancers perform during Game 5 against the Clippers.
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY SportsApril 24: A Rockets dancer performs during Game 5 against the Jazz.
Erik Williams, USA TODAY SportsApril 24: Warriors fans before Game 5 against the Clippers.
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY SportsApril 23: 76ers mascot Franklin climbs a very tall ladder to get the crowd excited during Game 5.
Chris Szagola, APApril 23: A Trail Blazers fan is surrounded by 'Rip City' T-shirts as he watches warmups before Game 5.
Steve Dykes, Getty ImagesApril 22: Jazz cheerleaders perform during Game 4 against the Rockets.
Jeffrey Swinger, USA TODAY SportsApril 21: Pacers dancers perform during Game 4 against Boston.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports![April 21: Pacers mascot Boomer repels from the ceiling of Bankers Life Fieldhouse during Game 4 against the Celtics.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/21/USAT/4e1bc5fe-087e-4ee4-bedb-ebe032cb2bc1-pacers-mascot.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 21: Pacers mascot Boomer repels from the ceiling of Bankers Life Fieldhouse during Game 4 against the Celtics.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY SportsApril 21: The Magic dance team poses after Game 4 against the Raptors.
Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY SportsApril 21: Fans react as the Magic lose to the Raptors in Game 4.
Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports![April 20: The Utah crowd gets behind Donovan Mitchell during Game 3 against the Rockets.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/21/USAT/e658f427-bb5d-4786-98ed-eaa7dd93f92e-2019-04-20_Fans1.jpg?crop=2205,1684,x0,y80&width=660&height=505&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 20: The Utah crowd gets behind Donovan Mitchell during Game 3 against the Rockets.
Russell Isabella, USA TODAY SportsApril 20: Pistons dancers perform during the third quarter of Game 3 against the Bucks.
Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports![April 19: Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia and Magic superfan Dennis Salvagio pose before Game 3 in Orlando.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/20/USAT/d89de074-a6a6-4a75-b4a4-39facd123b38-2019-04-19_Fans1.jpg?crop=3079,2206,x93,y37&width=660&height=473&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 19: Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia and Magic superfan Dennis Salvagio pose before Game 3 in Orlando.
Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports![April 17: Rockets mascot "Clutch" and a Rockets dancer ride a Harley during Game 2 at Toyota Center.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/18/USAT/f97e71e1-8b79-48eb-a961-be6dcb4f6d6f-USATSI_12551045.jpg?crop=2033,2098,x393,y0&width=640&height=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 17: Rockets mascot "Clutch" and a Rockets dancer ride a Harley during Game 2 at Toyota Center.
Thomas Shea, USA TODAY Sports![April 17: Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha signs a fan's banner before Game 2 against the Rockets in Houston.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/18/USAT/b97c2eed-77df-463a-b3e2-90028d658882-jazz.jpg?width=660&height=510&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 17: Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha signs a fan's banner before Game 2 against the Rockets in Houston.
Thomas Shea, USA TODAY Sports![April 17: The Bucks dancers perform during the fourth quarter against the Pistons in Game 2 at Fiserv Forum.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/04/18/USAT/fc74a3a2-65a5-4981-8b0d-09b9d5ee1cc3-USATSI_12550647.jpg?crop=2304,2738,x0,y146&width=556&height=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
April 17: The Bucks dancers perform during the fourth quarter against the Pistons in Game 2 at Fiserv Forum.
Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY SportsApril 16: A Raptors fan shows his support before Game 2 against the Magic.
Nick Turchiaro, USA TODAY SportsApril 15: 76ers mascot Franklin in action during the second half of Game 2 against the Nets.
Chris Szagola, APApril 15: A Warriors cheerleader performs during the second half of Game 2 against the Clippers.
Jeff Chiu, APApril 14: Celtics fans wait for the start of Game 1 against the Pacers.
Winslow Townson, APApril 14: A Rockets fan dressed in an astronaut costume cheers before Game 1 against the Jazz.
Bob Levey, Getty ImagesApril 14: Rockets dancers perform during Game 1 against the Jazz.
Bob Levey, Getty ImagesApril 13: 76ers dancers perform during the first half of Game 1 against the Nets.
Chris Szagola, APApril 13: Nuggets dancers perform in the second quarter during Game 1 against the Spurs.
Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY SportsApril 13: A Raptors fan dressed as Deadpool at Jurassic Park outside of Scotiabank Arena prior to Game 1 against the Magic.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsFeatured Weekly Ad