Word on Sixers: Nick Nurse Returns to Face Toronto Raptors Saturday

Nick Nurse was a rookie head coach with one of the NBA’s most significant one-year rentals, Kawhi Leonard, on his roster. After years of the Toronto Raptors burning out and coming up short in the postseason, the Raptors gave the keys to Nurse, taking a major gamble on a guy who had tons of head coach experience everywhere but the NBA.

The Raptors’ decision paid off.

With a 58-24 record during the 2018-2019 NBA season, Nurse’s Raptors picked up the second seed in the Eastern Conference. After taking down the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers in 12 games, the Raptors advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks 4-2.

In a final seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors for the NBA title, Nurse’s Raptors closed the series out in six games. The Raptors achieved their first NBA Finals win in franchise history.

Unfortunately, that’s where the Nurse-Raptors relationship peaked. From that point moving forward, Toronto found moderate success in the post-Leonard era and never touched base in the Eastern Conference Finals again. Four seasons later, the Raptors missed the playoffs. Shortly after, Nurse was fired.

He landed on his feet with the 76ers, who closed the book on Doc Rivers after three years. Just two games into the 2023-2024 NBA season, Nurse will get an opportunity to face his former franchise, paying a visit to Scotiabank Arena as a guest for the first time since becoming an NBA coach.

Here are some of the key stories surrounding Nurse’s return to Canada and Philly’s matchup against the Raptors.

What’s the Word on the Sixers vs. Raptors?

Nick Nurse Makes Return With Little Fanfare — Toronto Sun

“Yet, maybe because Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and Masai Ujiri are more closely associated with the 2019 NBA champions than Nurse, or as a result of some odd behaviour down the stretch of his Toronto tenure (like openly bringing up how he might possibly need a change), or because two of his final three seasons in Toronto were disappointing, misery filled ones, Nurse’s popularity doesn’t feel close to where it once was, or perhaps where it should be considering his accomplishments.”

Nurse Describes Difference Between Raptors, Sixers Fans — SI National

“When a Toronto fan would see me in the airport, kinda say, ‘Hey coach’ [slight wave], and a Philly fan would come up to me and say, ‘Hey, are you going to do this, this and this?’ I mean they were coaching me, they were not just saying hello,” Nurse said in an interview for Philadelphia’s Sixers All-Access series."

Not Nurse’s First Rodeo — Toronto Star

"Nurse and his Philadelphia 76ers, losers in their season opener, arrive in Toronto to face the Raptors on Saturday night shrouded in controversy: waiting to see how the untenable James Harden fiasco plays out, and facing very serious questions about how the future will unfold. None of this is Nurse’s doing — he couldn’t have expected Harden to call team president Daryl Morey a “liar” as he demanded safe passage out of Philadelphia — but it is the coach who will have to navigate the choppy waters in its wake, manage the strong personalities left on the roster and keep things steady until there’s resolution to the drama."

About the Other Night…

3 Takeaways From 76ers’ Loss to Bucks - READ MORE

“Despite not having the ten-time All-Star, the Sixers held their own as Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Kelly Oubre Jr kept the game close, combining for a total of 15 makes from the field throughout the second half, nearly inspiring a come from behind win.”

Kelly Oubre Jr.: The Long Lost Element - READ MORE

“Too many times over the years have the Sixers coughed up games due to lack of bench production. In this game, Oubre's ability to come in and give a scoring punch for the second unit helped keep things within striking distance.”

Turnover Free Tyrese Passes First Test vs. Bucks - READ MORE

"Maxey ended up finishing Thursday’s game with a team-high 31 points. He nearly closed in on a double-double as he racked up eight assists. It was just the tenth time in Maxey’s career he generated at least eight assists in a single game. It was also the fourth time he created that many scoring opportunities for his teammates on the floor without turning the ball over once."